Opportunities in Friction

Dear Uncommon Leaders, 

Hope everyone had a great weekend and is stepping into this week refreshed, recharged, and ready to lead with purpose.

Remember, now is the time to stay intentional, keep the momentum going, and make these last two months of the year count! 💪

Let's go be uncommon!

This Week's Question: 

How do you navigate friction with a teammate or someone important in your life?

This Week's Challenge: 

If you work around and with other people long enough, there WILL be friction. It comes with the territory.

Think about a recent example. What happened? Was there a clear cause? Were expectations unclear? Or did two people simply see things differently?

Two common responses are fight or flight. We dig in our heels and defend our position, or we avoid the conversation and hope the tension disappears.

I’d like to suggest a better response:

Tune in. Evaluate the cause. Steer toward better.

There’s an opportunity in friction. An opportunity to learn about someone else. An opportunity to learn about ourselves. And an opportunity to discover something our organization needs to address.

But we can miss all of that when we’re busy defending ourselves.

Try asking: “Help me understand what you’re seeing that I might be missing.” Then listen long enough to learn something before explaining your side.

Sometimes I’ve learned that I’m the problem. Other times, friction has exposed behavior that needed to change. But often, it has simply shown me there’s a better way.

Your challenge this week: Think of one relationship where you’re experiencing friction. Take a breath, get curious, and have the conversation. Listen. Evaluate. Then work together on one step toward better.

Don’t just tolerate friction. Use it to pursue the uncommon and get better.

Have a great week!

This Week's Quote to Ponder: 

“All polishing is done by friction. The music of the violin we get by friction.” — Mary Parker Follett, “Constructive Conflict” (1925)

Until next week,

LET'S GO BE UNCOMMON!

W. Kevin Harrison

Founder and Executive Coach

Uncommon Influence