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What 5 famous leaders have to say about conflict at work

Posted by Shivali Anand

October 13, 2021 | 4-minute read (610 words)

Dealing with disagreement at work may necessitate the acquisition of new skills and modifying your communication style. However, not every leader will approach problem-solving in the workplace in the same way. Take a look at how the following well-known leaders feel about the subject.

Gary Vaynerchuk

It doesn't matter whether an employee makes the most sales or brings in the most money; according to the Vaynermedia CEO, they're fired if they can't get along with their co-workers.

"It's unacceptable to let your emotions get the best of you and talk down to someone or create confrontation," he said on Medium. "Being unable to talk to someone face-to-face when there is an issue, and instead of creating gossip around them: no way."

He also has a lesson for managers when it comes to creating a conflict-free workplace culture: "When it comes to culture, everything emanates from the top. Set an example for others. Set a good example. Say it if you agree with me. Make it a reality for your business."

Steve Wozniak

Apple's co-founder recalls avoiding confrontation in the early days of the firm. He told CNN, "I was also frightened of fighting and dealing with people. Things are a lot more complicated now, and I'm more confident."

His self-assurance has increased with time, but he emphasizes that sensitivity is still a component of his fundamental nature. He explained, "I have always been sensitive and can't hurt or even get in the way of others." "I try to be only equal to all others."

Indra Nooyi

The former PepsiCo CEO solves difficulties by pretending to be a student to uncover answers to solve any problems.

"If I go back through my entire career, anywhere where things were too complex, it always came to me: ‘Indra, you simplify it first. You tell us how to navigate through this extremely complex problem,'" She told LinkedIn. "Somebody gives me a complex problem; I become a student. I don't care that I'm CEO, or president, or CFO. I become a student."

Bob Iger

Former Disney CEO Bob Iger, in his 2019 book “Ride of a Lifetime,” wrote that he fosters a culture of positivity, adding that no one wants to follow a pessimist. In addition, even in times of disagreement, he cautions leaders to avoid becoming part of a negative attitude at work.

"It's easy to get caught up in rumor mills, to worry about this person's perception of you or that person's, what someone might say or write about you," he wrote of a moment when he felt assaulted. "It's easy to become defensive and petty and to want to lash out when you feel you're unfairly misrepresented. As much as this process was a test of my ideas, it was also a test of my temperament, and I couldn't let the negativity being expressed by people who knew little about me affect the way I felt about myself."

Oprah Winfrey

When Oprah Winfrey is confronted with a difficult situation, she asks herself a few basic questions she once remarked on her own show. She may put the tension of the disagreement aside if she recognizes that she will learn something valuable from it.

"What is this here to teach me?" She wonders, "What does it REALLY mean when it keeps coming up?" "Every trial in your life, every trial, crisis, or difficulty that confronts you that's in your face, it's there to say, 'Who do you think you really are?' And it's up to you to be able to look inside and answer that question, and if you cannot fully answer that question, that's what it's in your face for."

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HR

What 5 famous leaders have to say about conflict at work

Gary Vaynerchuk

Steve Wozniak

Indra Nooyi

Bob Iger

Oprah Winfrey

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