Money alone cannot resolve the underlying issues in conflicts. Instead, the essence of resolving disputes often lies in acknowledgment, understanding, and communication.
Before I worked on many of the court cases that I’ve worked on over the last six or seven years, I thought that if you distributed enough money to people, then you could solve most of their conflicts and issues.
I’ve learned that that’s not the case, and most conflict management issues are resolved by people feeling like they were heard and understood no matter how much money is involved.
The Power Is Not In The Money
This power does not merely refer to authority or dominance but signifies the affirmation of being right and having one’s stance acknowledged by others.
I always tell my staff that it’s usually not about how much money we’re going to distribute to shareholders or parties in a lawsuit, it’s about who gets the power.
So that’s right, when I say power, I’m not talking about being able to rule, although that’s part of it. It’s about being right and having the other parties, understand that they were right all along.
Communication is the Key to Business Consulting
Effective communication and engagement are paramount. Moreover, transparency and responsiveness can transform situations of uncertainty and discontent into a successful resolution.
For example, when I was on the Hanging H Ranch case having to do with the estate of Roy Lindsay, I was brought in because of the shareholders. They didn’t have any communication on what was going on, and there had been no distributions of the company in sometime.
I started putting out a monthly report to let everyone know what we were doing and how operations were being conducted in the company. I also started making regular distributions to the shareholders and prioritizing their phone calls whenever they wanted to know specifics about what was going on in the estate.
Over three years, this process resolved the issues, and we were able to divest the company with a nine-figure sale.
Business Transformation is Possible
Deeper, non-financial aspects of conflicts and the power of acknowledgment and communication is paramount while seeking resolution.
Just because you’re making a fair offer to settle with someone. The money may not solve your problem. There may be something much bigger at the heart of the matter.
If you are feeling tension and have a sneaking suspicion that you may need a business advisor in Tyler, Dallas, or Houston, reach out to the experienced team at Roy Jackson Consulting.
We’re here to help.