Although we live in an increasingly competitive and hostile society, we are regularly unprepared for conflict, because we simply are not equipped with the right tools to manage it. Yet, all of us, in one way or another, are involved in some daily battles, whether they are big or small. What we do when they arise, however, is respond with anger and aggression, or avoid confrontation altogether. Both in the workplace and when among friends, we tend to feel overwhelmed by conflict and either react to it badly, or bury our heads in the sand. Both of these attitudes are clearly damaging, and can have a negative impact on our lives. Luckily, however, there is a way out, and it’s within everyone's reach: when it comes to dealing with conflict, we can choose to behave like strategic warriors.
The term strategy derives from the Greek word strategos, meaning “general” (the commander of the army). A strategic warrior, like a military leader, has a broad perspective and plans his moves well; he does not avoid confrontation, but faces it calmly and decisively. He clearly establishes how to invest his energies, and knows how to channel his emotions. He often moves discreetly, sometimes indirectly, to disorient his opponent. Developing these skills is important, because in real life, there will always be aggressive, ruthless individuals willing to do anything to get what they want. Giving them a taste of their own medicine, although difficult to resist sometimes, is usually counterproductive. What we really need to do is prepare for the art of war, which, as argued by the Chinese general Sun-Tzu, is the ability to achieve victory without causing bloodshed.
