To Infinity And Beyond: A Lesson On Conflict from Buzz and Woody

Daniel Alex is the Managing Director & CEO of Health eFormatics, an Illinois-based healthcare IT solutions company.

Buzz Light Year vs. Woody, photo credit: www.Nick.com

​If we assume that all of the actors on stage have good intentions, then conceptually, we should be able to have good conflict ..."

One of the most important aspects that will determine whether or not our conflict will have a positive or negative outcome is knowing how to listen and using the right communication skills. 

By: Linda E. Alberty, M.A. ​​
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Released in 1995, the popular Disney Pixar movie, “Toy Story” taught kids and adults about the universal struggle of conflict and what happens in the worst and best case scenarios.

CULTIVATE EXCELLENCE interviewed Daniel Alex, Managing Director & CEO of Health eFormatics, an Illinois-based healthcare IT solutions company, to get his take on conflict.  Daniel begins by reminding us that we are all faced with conflict at work and in our personal lives.  In order to successfully manage this, he employs an approach known as ‘structured conflict,’ which is a positive and effective way to navigate through potentially challenging waters.

Structured conflict can be defined as intentionally and thoughtfully seeking diverse viewpoints in order to arrive at the best course of action for the purpose of benefiting the whole group. It does not deny the messy onset of discord and disharmony that may ensue. It does however, recognize the benefits that come when agents of the process willingly choose to set aside their egos and personal agendas to instead focus on the desired outcome.
 
​While this particular inspirational blog topic can be hard to read, as it can remind of us of a long forgotten conflict we may have had with another, it helps us to focus on what we can do better for next time; after all, we only have the power to control our next response. 

“If we assume that all of the actors on stage have good intentions, then conceptually, we should be able to have good conflict. The difficulty is working through the relational issues.” Daniel draws upon the themes in the main characters, “In the beginning Buzz and Woody just couldn’t get along.  Their styles were different; their approach was different. 

​Woody had some insecurities about his position within the group and there was conflict anytime a decision came up.  They focused on what was different about each other and saw that as a negative thing.”

Resolving conflict in a positive manner is a skill than can be developed and practiced.  In order to have productive conflict, Daniel, stresses the importance of knowing how to listen and using the right communication skills.  This is one of the most important aspects that will determine whether or not our conflicts will have a positive or negative outcome.
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Eventually, over time, Buzz and Woody realized that they weren’t that different from each other.  Sure, on the surface there were different… but their values and beliefs were pretty similar.  They realized that their differences actually made the group better.  It wasn’t a negative thing at all… it was just the opposite! And in the end, they both lost an enemy and gained a friend.

You've Got A Friend in Me, photo credit: http://bit.ly/29QTHZU

• Be Realistic - While you may not become best friends with the person that you are in conflict with, the common denominator to ease tension should always be building trust and respect.
• Manage Conflict by Strengthening Similarities -  When we create a level-playing field where similarities are explored, it actually helps to de-escalate conflict. We may not always come to a quick resolution, but we can manage conflict to a certain extent.
• Leverage Differences - Explore the the strengths that differences provide and view it as an added bonus to the group rather than a detraction.
• Relinquish Control & Adapt (Grow) - Sometimes the ending won’t be Disney Pixar perfect but in hindsight, conflict gives us a tremendous opportunity to learn about ourselves and grow. It also shows us that sometimes it’s okay to relinquish control of the situation to live at peace and achieve greater goals.

Daniel is a business executive with a deep understanding of Healthcare IT management with an emphasis in Business Intelligence and EMR Data Interoperability. His career spans 20 years of experience in information technology, corporate finance, and business development.  Daniel has an MBA with a concentration in finance from Northern Illinois University and a BS in Information Technology from DeVry.  In addition to his professional and academic experience, Daniel also served 4 years of active duty service with the United States Marine Corps.