Often people will find themselves in conflict and not have any idea how they got there.  When asked about the progression of the conflict, the response is many times, "Well, when Joe emailed me I could tell that he was unhappy about something.  When I replied to his email I thought I did so appropriately, but things just exploded." 

I am amazed at how often a conflict could have been nipped in the bud if someone would have sat down and talked with the person at the first hint of a problem, or even called the individual.  Regardless of how careful an email (or letter) is worded, it is one-dimensional, one-way communication and leaves much interpretation to be done by the person receiving it. 

In my role as the HR Director at Peacemaker Ministries, one simple (but key) learning point for me has been this - if you think there is a problem brewing, or even if you are getting ready to communicate about a sensitive topic, take the time to sit down and talk, or at least give the individual a call.  You may feel that you don't have the time to invest in this.  If you don't invest the time in it now, you'll spend it later! 

I am grateful to work at a place that strives to practice this principle.  Our staff members often stop everything to sit down and talk through an issue instead of allowing it to fester. At times this commitment even requires a plane flight.  This may seem like a lot, but we have a God who went to the cross to redeem our relationship.  In comparison, taking the time to go to one another for the sake of our relationships does not seem like that great of a sacrifice!

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