Why Avoiding Conflict Is the Wrong Move

Aside from our work life, avoiding conflict can manifest in our romantic relationships, friendships, and even family dynamics.

Conflict avoidance is a type of people-pleasing behavior that typically arises from a deep rooted fear of upsetting others.

In a relationship, this can look like going silent on a partner, changing the subject, or enduring uncomfortable situations instead of expressing issues openly.

• stonewalling , or denying an issue exists by ignoring it
• fear of disappointing others
• deliberately sidestepping conversations
• silently resenting unresolved issues

While avoidance sometimes seems like the best way to deal with conflict, in the long run it ends up harming our intimacy .

Disagreeing with someone doesn’t necessarily mean “fighting.” Keep in mind that it’s not about blaming the other person or proving who’s right and wrong in a given situation.

Conflict resolution is about standing up for yourself and communicating when you feel angry or frustrated.

Clearly define what you’d like to resolve before the confrontation and write down canned, factual responses to use when needed (“I worked late for the past 2 weeks while my co-worker didn’t turn in their share of the research”).