Week Five: Chapter 7

　　　For me, reading this chapter was so interesting because I'm always looking for what is the best way of conflict management. As I mentioned many times, my club focuses on issue of Israel-Palestine. This is the conflict between two nations, two religions, political parties and other countries like America and Arabic countries. We have to consider various factors which bring this conflict.  Therefore, I know it's not the kind of conflict which the author said in Leading at he Edge. But I think the main way of thinking is similar and I can learn from this chapter. Conflict is caused by people, so I hope it can be resolved by people.

　　　The author said "The challenge is not how to eliminate conflicts, but rather how to manage them in productive ways that strengthen bonds among team members". I like this phrase. When conflict between people happens, they tend to avoid it unconsciously, especially in Japan. However, avoiding is meaningless and it doesn't solve anything. By escaping from conflict, they may think they can keep the good relationship, but rather it breaks it, I think. We have to argue if we want to make good relationship. 

　　　How to manage their argument is the job of leaders. It's difficult to settle down people who fight each other. First of all, I think leaders have to make it clear this arguing is not bad thing, rather it is necessary to establish good relationship. People who get angry and fight tend to be blind and cannot see the point clearly. So leaders have to calm down them so that they can reach the agreement without getting too emotional. Second, leaders hove to admire diversities and make members admire it, too. When my student organization(JIPSC) held the conference, there were various kinds of people from three side: Israel, Palestine and Japan. There were left sided people, former member of Israel army, Christian, Muslim, Jews, half Jewish and half Arabic etc... Members were consist from diversity. It's easy to imagine that conflict happens many times. I don't want to remember because it's so hard to manage and  was too wasted, but yes... many conflicts happened EVERY DAY. Sometimes, Muslim girl got angry because she hates the noisy people. Sometimes conflict happened between two Israelis about occupation policy which Israel government doing. Sometimes, conflict happened within Japanese organizers about how to manage discussion. 

During conference, we held the discussion days 6 times about Israel-Palestine issues.

　　　Even though we argued many times, our relationship didn't break up, rather, these experiences made our relationship much more strong. We faced difficulties between different people, but we overcame it and could accept diversity. I believe, the most important thing in the conflict is having imagination towards others. It can be said about conflict between Israel and Palestine. When people can have imagination towards enemies, enemies will closer. I want to keep it in my mind and tell others if conflict happens.