“Conflict lies at the core of innovation.” — Emanuel R. Piore

Harvard leadership guru Ronald Heifetz writes, “Successful leaders manage conflict; they don’t shy away from it or suppress it but see it as an engine of creativity and innovation. Some of the most creative ideas come out of people in conflict remaining in conversation with one another rather than flying into their own corners or staking out entrenched positions.”

The Bottom Line: Leaders do not avoid conflict — they embrace it as a potential catalyst for new ideas and innovation.