
If you want to examine a person who seems difficult to you, you must also examine yourself. An equal human, not a difficult oneĪs psychologist Jeffrey Kottler has said, every person you fight with has many other people in their life with whom they get along quite well. Tending to the space between is instrumental in the relationship’s sustainability.

Think of it as a buffer that protects the personal or professional relationship from the negative effects of conflict. The space between is the figurative terrain between you and them. It’s not discord itself that determines if the relationship survives and thrives, it’s how you disagree.

Couples can have big fights and frequent conflict yet still have healthy, fulfilling, and lasting relationships. Robust disagreement is a hallmark of creative, effective workplace teams.
