ABSTRACT
We know that life is full of competing and conflicting demands involving difficult choices and decisions. Some of these conflicts arising in our professional lives – and indeed our personal lives – can be addressed more satisfactorily if they are clearly identified and understood.
Conflict and the “tension of opposites” are often seen as negative but they are essential for all change to take place. What we need to do is to reflect on the opposing forces and find the right balance or make the best choices.
In a work context, these conflicts may, for example, involve finding the way between professional and personal demands as well as maintaining the balance between one’s private and public professional persona or between professional and personal values.
But particular challenges may arise when facing change. There is a general tendency among individuals, groups and systems to maintain the status quo rather than to adopt change, especially fundamental change. Professionals need to understand how systems work and how they may need to change from time to time: when established traditions need to be preserved and when doing so becomes undesirable and unhealthy.
