Description: Conflict shouldn’t be seen as an obstacle for creative teams but as an opportunity. It’s the moment where authenticity emerges, and true growth begins.

Reading time: 2 min

I’ve always been fascinated by how teams face conflict. For years, I saw it as an obstacle, something to avoid at all costs to maintain harmony. But over time, I realized that conflict is one of the most revealing and transformative moments in the journey toward authenticity.

When a team enters a phase of disagreement, fear often takes over: “Are we failing? Are we falling apart?” In reality, this is precisely the moment when the team stops acting superficially and dares to show who its members truly are. The differences that once felt uncomfortable begin to become a source of richness.

Conflict, at its core, is an act of honesty. It’s the team saying, “This doesn’t work for me, I don’t understand this, I don’t agree with this.” And while it can be difficult to navigate, it’s also the first step toward creating something genuine. I’ve witnessed how, after pushing through this stage, teams learn to dialogue, debate without tearing each other down, and build agreements that truly belong to them.

The key is not to fear conflict but to learn how to move through it. It takes courage, patience, and a lot of listening, but when a team succeeds, it transforms. It stops merely working on tasks and starts working on its identity—and, with that, its best version.

Today, I see conflict as a positive sign: it shows that the team is alive, engaged, and willing to find its path to authentic collaboration. And that, to me, is the true essence of creative work.

Quick Exercise:

Reflect on a recent conflict you experienced within your team and answer:

1. What was openly discussed, but more importantly, what was left unsaid?

2. How do you think those unsaid words might have changed the situation if they had been expressed?

3. What can you do today to create a space where those tough conversations feel easier to approach?

This exercise will help you see how conflict can be a catalyst for authenticity and collective growth. 🚀