Hi, Paul - another strong set of observations that contain much leadership wisdom for us - thanks!

You have created one powerful list of benefits and I believe that this might become the new standard for expressing the value of conflict.

The second benefit you list, that of creating new relationships, was not something that had occured to me before now.  I knew intuitively that finding common ground in the midst of conflict was a positive strategy for growth, but you have identified a real "silver lining".  I would imagine that finding common ground with another in a potentially negative situation might even make for a stronger bond than those forged when everyone is in agreement.

Something comes to mind about the strength of things tempered by fire ...

Excellent stuff, which I enjoyed reading and take pleasure in sharing with others.

John