What does it mean to prevent conflict?
Psychologist Morton Deutsch defines conflict as “a struggle between individuals or groups who perceive incompatible goals, limited resources, or interference from others.” The earlier principles help you recognize and reduce conflict triggers.

How can conflicts be prevented?
Conflicts are less likely in well-organized environments. Clear, prioritized, and aligned goals reduce the risk, as do clearly defined roles. Being informed about decisions, having a voice, and receiving regular feedback also help. Psychological safety prevents small irritations from growing. In short: using the earlier principles will help. 

Why is this important?
Even seemingly constructive task-related conflicts can reduce productivity. Prevention is usually better than resolution.

Tips for conflict-prevention exercises:
Habitud helps your team identify conflict-prone situations and recognize behavior patterns in those contexts. Focus on behavior and context—not personality. Use active listening and summarizing to understand each other better. If there are active conflicts, seek help from HR or an external facilitator. The Habitud method works best as improvement, not crisis management.

You’ll know you’re doing well with principle 6 when…
You’ve identified high-risk situations and taken steps to reduce them. You trust that someone—like the manager—can mediate conflict constructively when needed.