--- title: Conflict and the Wisdom of Donkeys description: What can donkeys teach us about conflict management? image: https://www.centreforteams.com/hubfs/Donkeys.webp --- [\+ 020 4538 9923](tel:+%20020%204538%209923)[info@centreforteams.com](mailto:info@centreforteams.com) [\+ 44 20 4538 9923](tel:+2045389923)[info@centreforteams.com](mailto:info@centreforteams.com) [![CFT-Nav-Bar-Logo-NEW](https://www.centreforteams.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CFT-Nav-Bar-Logo-NEW.webp?width=414&height=69&name=CFT-Nav-Bar-Logo-NEW.webp "CFT-Nav-Bar-Logo-NEW")](https://www.centreforteams.com/) [![Screenshot\_2024-06-19\_104847-removebg-preview](https://www.centreforteams.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Screenshot_2024-06-19_104847-removebg-preview.png?width=190&height=48&name=Screenshot_2024-06-19_104847-removebg-preview.png "Screenshot_2024-06-19_104847-removebg-preview")](https://www.centreforteams.com/) - [Home](https://www.centreforteams.com) - How We Work - [Adaptable Teams](https://www.centreforteams.com/adaptable-teams) - 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I just assumed that it resembled any other parental advice:  “you’ll feel better when you ‘ve had something to eat,” or “there are plenty more fish in the sea.” Undoubtably true, but never what you want to hear at the time!   Fast forward a few years. No sooner did I enter corporate life than I found myself invariably batting and battling against sometimes smarter and often more experienced colleagues. We may have shared the same organisational purpose, but we saw very different routes to its realisation.   I was continually in conflict with them (regardless of how polite we may have been to each other) - they were as determined in their approach as I was in mine, and no-one was ever going to give any ground.   It was on these occasions that ‘The Two Donkeys’ would find their way back into my consciousness and invite a range of questions that could help uncover a way out or at least a way through:  - **What’s the conversation that’s being had here?** - **What’s the killer question that’s being asked to unlock the logjam?** - **What experiences are being shared here?** - **What strongly held assumptions and beliefs are being temporarily parked?**  So much great stuff has been written about how to harness conflict and how to have really powerful conversations (not least this useful piece from Centre for Teams on “[How to Give Feedback and Maintain Trust](https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/giving-corrective-feedback-without-undermining-trust)” ). And whilst there is so much valuable learning to be accessed and shared, to my mind the essence of the wisdom of donkeys is to:  - Step back. - slow down, - let go, - open up. A classic case of slowing down to speed up.   It's not rocket science. It’s just good to talk.  Share this [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/conflict-and-the-tale-of-two-donkeys&text=Conflict%20and%20the%20Wisdom%20of%20Donkeys) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/conflict-and-the-tale-of-two-donkeys&t=Conflict%20and%20the%20Wisdom%20of%20Donkeys) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/conflict-and-the-tale-of-two-donkeys&t=Conflict%20and%20the%20Wisdom%20of%20Donkeys) Previous story [← Team Coaching Vs Team Building: What Executive Leaders Need To Know](https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/team-coaching-vs-team-building) Next story [Sweating Your Leaders As A Source Of Competitive Advantage →](https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/leadership-development-and-capability-building) ### Get Email Notifications ### No Comments Yet Let us know what you think  **Phone:** [+44 20 4538 9923](tel:+020%204538%209923)  **Email:** [info@centreforteams.com](mailto:info@centreforteams.com?subject=Enquiry%20from%20Centre%20for%20Teams%20website) 1 Park Road, Hampton Wick, KT1 4AS, United Kingdom VAT Number: 843986478 Company Number: 5161533 [Join us on Slack](https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-centre-for-teams-limited/) Our Solutions - [Leadership Coaching](https://www.centreforteams.com/leadership-coaching) - [Strengthening Leadership Capability](https://www.centreforteams.com/strengthening-leadership-capability) - [Leadership Circles and Supervision](https://www.centreforteams.com/leadership-circles-and-supervision) - [Team Development](https://www.centreforteams.com/team-development) Our Solutions - [Team Leadership](https://www.centreforteams.com/team-leadership) - [Team Learning Summits](https://www.centreforteams.com/team-learning-summits) - [Partnering & Joint Ventures](https://www.centreforteams.com/partnering-joint-ventures) - [Cultural Change](https://www.centreforteams.com/cultural-change) Resources - [Blog](https://www.centreforteams.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://www.centreforteams.com/blog/tag/case-studies) - [Podcast](https://www.centreforteams.com/podcast) - [Free Guide](https://www.centreforteams.com/download-creating-adaptable-team) - [Book a Meeting](https://www.centreforteams.com/book-a-meeting) - [FAQ](https://www.centreforteams.com/frequently-asked-questions) - [Teamship in a VUCA Environment](https://www.centreforteams.com/teamship-in-a-vuca-environment) Copyright © 2026 The Centre for Teams Ltd. 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