As much as leadership is about direction, its also about control. One of many things a leader needs to ensure is that the group they are leading doesnt become more powerful than the leader, because this can ultimately result in an uprising or coup of sort.

Some leaders use a method whereby they create conflict within their group, and this conflict ensures that the larger group remains divided in multiple factions, thereby not having a single more cohesive group.

This style is found in many spheres, not just business & companies, but also correctional services, politics, and more.

In business, these groups are often different divisions of a business and they compete with each other to achieve the top spot, but are not organised enough to be a threatening unit to a business.

Several cases exist where large groups form the majority, such as where a large portion of workers are union members that then go on strike. But in most cases, the internal groups are not able to align themselves to be enough of a problem, more just a nuisance.

In a small business however, things are quite different. Its essential that the entire business operates as a single unit to give cohesiveness and to produce a fine-tuned & efficient machine. But it works typically because of the mentality of the people in that group – they are normally passionate and inspired individuals who take pride in what they do. This is a big differentiator!

If you are part of a larger machine, keep your eyes open for unnecessary conflit, and in many cases you’ll see that theres no real reason for it, and its just not logical. Break the trend, and work as one; its the better solution for all!