Befriending Conflict

“Befriending conflict helps you be the best you can be in the worst of situations – to stay clear, present, related, and humane through even the most of trying times.”
–Joe Goodbread

In most organizations, conflict is seen as a distraction, a breakdown, or a threat to harmony. But what if conflict is not the problem—but a signal?

At Creating...™, we treat conflict as a doorway—not a detour—to the transformation that’s ready to happen.

Conflict often points to what’s been overlooked: unspoken tensions, misused power, unmet needs, or values in collision. Left unaddressed, it festers beneath the surface—eroding trust, blocking alignment, and draining energy.

But when we meet it skillfully, conflict can clarify priorities, deepen relationships, and create the conditions for more honest and effective leadership.

We help leaders and teams:

• Shift from avoidance to engagement

• Explore the somatic signals and emotional dynamics that show up in moments of tension

• Name what’s been hidden or avoided—without blame, shame, or bypass

• Build the capacity to stay present and curious—even in discomfort

• Cultivate practices that restore trust, accountability, and collective resilience

Through conflict transformation coaching, facilitation, and systems work, we don’t just “manage” conflict—we help clients uncover the intelligence it holds. In doing so, they become more resilient, more aligned, and more capable of leading in a complex world.

As one client said, “This work didn’t just help us navigate a conflict—it changed the way we relate as a team.”

We take the name “Befriending Conflict” from Dr. Joe Goodbread’s powerful book of the same title—a perspective that has deeply shaped how we approach conflict in leadership and systems work.