2 min read

Creating the Conditions for Generative Conflict

Creating the Conditions for Generative Conflict
Image by Alexander Grey

If there's one thing I've learned about what it takes to offer unique work to the world, it's that you have to be tenacious.

When I started sharing my work independently in 2021, I understood it would take real effort. But I did not understand just how difficult it would be.

When I reflect on where the difficulty comes from, I can see a number of places. But I think the most significant challenge may be creating enough directed attention on a single topic to go deep enough with people to create the positive change they're looking for.

It's easy to show up for work on a particular topic once or twice. But if things don't shift immediately for us, we sometimes lose interest.

It hit me last fall that if I really wanted the work I was creating to have the impact I was hoping for, I would have to develop a singular focus and go deep. With a great deal of support from people around me, that's how I landed on conflict work.

Specifically, I landed on supporting small to mid-sized mission-driven organizational leaders develop a generative conflict culture to help their teams and communities achieve their goals.

Conflict work meets my ikigai in a couple of different ways.

It provides the singular focus I'm looking for in my professional offerings, but it's still is complex enough to keep me fascinated and leverage my other related skills.

Conflict work meets the world in a particular way in 2025. I believe radical collaboration and conflict transformation may be among the most important domains of work in the world right now.

Lastly, conflict work opens up potential doors for partnering with organizations and leaders I deeply admire and want to support.

As part of my preparation for diving more deeply into conflict work, I've created a new 1-hour workshop entitled Creating the Conditions for Generative Conflict: Essential Understandings for Mission-Driven Leaders and Teams. You can learn more about the content of this workshop by clicking here.

I'll be offering this workshop virtually for the first time on August 22 from 2-3pm Pacific. It's free to register, and you can do so by clicking here.

I aspire to offer this workshop regularly, to as many interested groups as possible. I believe it both offers serious value on its own, and it will help teams and organizations who are considering partnering with me gain more insight into whether we might be a good fit.

Do you know group or organization that might be interested in hosting this work for their audience? Please send this email their way.

That's all for now. Wishing you all the best.

Warmly,

James
www.jamesboutin.com
james.boutin@mailfence.com

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Upcoming Events

Creating the Conditions for Generative Conflict: Essential Understandings for Mission-Driven Leaders and Groups
A 1-hour virtual workshop
Friday, August 22 from 2-3pm Pacific
Click here to register