A Clean Street

Additionally, we have had several of these discussions over the years, and while I don’t enjoy them, I know we have each other's backs. We won’t attack each other. Instead, we will work through the facts of the issue and wind up at a place better than where we started. This was affirmed to me when, at one point in the discussion, my friend made the statement: “I want to make sure my side of the street is clean also.”

"How can you think of saying, 'Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,' when you can't see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend's eye." (Luke 6:42)

When you work through conflict with people who recognize that there are two sides to every issue and they own one of them, you can truly land in a great place. And you must accept the fact that your side of the street may have a little dirt on it, too. No person or process is perfect.

Without trust, conflicts end in destruction—destruction of teams, solutions, and, unfortunately, people. Conflicts, however, are important. If they are avoided altogether, professional apathy will sometimes destroy an organization's future.  

Seek to understand instead of trying to prove that you are right and stay on the path toward the best outcome.

Sure, you will sometimes collide with others, and often with your own ego, but that's necessary. If you are surrounded by people you trust, then you can leave your defenses at home and know that you will be in a better place on the other side of conflict.

And don’t forget to make sure that your side of the street is clean before pointing out the dirt across the way.  

Father, give me the humility and respect to handle conflict well.