As a college business speaker one of the things I am asked to speak on is conflict in business so I wrote this article to cover a few key ideas to keep in mind as college students enter into the real world of business.

This article is for you if you are in a business or are a business-owner and feel a little pushed around or a little taken advantage of in your business dealings sometimes....and if you are ready to change the results you're getting.

There are conflicts in business because everyone from your customers, to your vendors, to your employees and partners has their own best interests at heart...and they should.

We are all in one form or another playing this game called business to win, right?

The real problem with conflict in business is when someone chooses their best interest at the expense of the person or the company they are doing business with...or maybe even the company they are working for...like your employees.

Or, even worse, when someone or some company searches out ways to gain greater interest at the expense of someone else. This in fact is what has put the United States of America in the mess that its in....but that is a whole other conversation.

So if we know and expect everyone we ever deal with is going to put their self interest in front of yours, then there are a few ways to adjust to this if you want to succeed.

First, we come to the table of any process or negotiation expecting that everyone is going to work from their best interest and understand if you get clear on your goals for the meeting, negotiation, or sales call then craft your desired outcome to fit what would be best for them in their ideal situation. This will make it much easier for them to accept it.

This doesn't mean jump in the game and try to take advantage of anyone with your communication. Because hopefully your goal is to find a win win opportunity for everyone.

Second, if the people that are working for you or with you are working against you because their best interest comes above the collective best interest.... its time for you to quickly run the other direction.

It will always looking over your shoulder. Trust me, no matter what relationship it is...it's not worth it. You're better off cutting your ties with them and looking for more holistic business relationships that are built of making everyone a success instead of them becoming a successful at your expense.