Conflict Management

This week we discussed Conflict Management. This is a very important topic for leaders to understand well. Things are never happy and perfect like we'd like them to be. We're forced to deal with disagreements and conflicts with those that we work with. A good leader is a good crisis manager. Situations that foster conflict often threaten to tear a group of people apart.

As an Elders Quorum President, it is very important that harmony is maintained among the members of the quorum. Fostering a spirit of brotherhood is one of the main focuses of the quorum. However, there are often challenges, as boys will be boys. I may have to deal with roommates that are not getting along, or Home Teaching companions that are having a tough time together. I believe that the best way to approach this is to be kind and loving. I can play a role in trying to ease the hard feelings some people may have, but at the end of the day, they have to take the actions themselves in order to fix the crisis.

One of my favorite stories of conflict management is John F. Kennedy and the Cuban Missile Crisis. A relatively new President, Kennedy was faced with one of the most serious National Security situations in American history. The Cubans, aided by the Russians, pointed missiles at the United States, in an attempt to put pressure on the new President. Unlike what many would have done, Kennedy reacted in a calm but firm way. We did not send in troops or make the first military move. He decided to set up a blockade. This strategy proved useful, and the Russians backed off. Reacting in a calm but firm way is very important when dealing with tough conflicts.