We like peace, and we should. Our
forefathers fought for it. Our military is dedicated to protecting it.
Peace of mind, serenity and calmness are goals of a stress free life.
However, avoiding conflicts can result in greater problems.
The Hidden Costs
Conflict avoidance can result in unintended consequences both personally and professionally:
Women who do not negotiate their salary realize between $1M and $1.5 million in lost lifetime earnings. We’ve all read the statistics that women earn on average 78 cents to a man’s dollar. It seems easier to swallow losing 22 cents than it does nearly $1.5 million. But, this fear gets us on both ends. How so? Well, we feel such apprehension about negotiating that we often avoid the discussion during purchases too, regardless of the price of the item. In fact, women pay 46% more for goods and services than our male counterparts. Now include the higher price for clothes, dry cleaning and haircuts and we are taking a serious hit. What’s left if we earn less and spend more?
As a manager, not confronting disruptive behavior can become multiplicative. First the individual with the negative behavior feels validated and continues with the behavior. Next, once validated can become contagious to others easily influenced or seeking same reward. Every cause has an effect, which means other team members may attrite. Overall morale will suffer, leading directly to decreased productivity. This activity of not confronting the issue head-on creates a layer of ambiguity that leads to organizational destruction.
Negotiation, when done right, can create positive self and wealth worth, healthy relationships and encourage appropriate confrontation. Awareness is the first step. What will be your second?
