Conflict is a necessary element of any story that creates tension and pushes the protagonist to question their values. It provides direction, motion and purpose and without it a story can feel flat and uninspired. In addition, conflict reveals character traits and provides depth and dimension to your characters.

Conflict comes in a variety of forms and can involve more than just two people. It can be as simple as an argument or a heated discussion between two people or as complex as a fist fight. However, if it is managed in a healthy manner, conflict can also be used to bring about positive change. Conflict can also reveal the level of trust, respect and communication that exists between two parties. When handled poorly, conflicts can lead to irreparable rifts and broken relationships.

The key to writing conflict is creating a situation that your protagonist cannot win. There are many factors that can contribute to this, but some of the most common include differences in opinions, values and interests, different cultural or religious traditions, educational backgrounds, economic status, etc. When you have identified potential areas of conflict in your story, write out the different ways that these factors can come into play and then create a scenario with the highest levels of conflict potential.

To increase the tension, you also need to ensure that your antagonist or “bad guy” is working against your protagonist’s main desire. The stronger the forces of antagonism are, the more well-developed your character will become and the more exciting your story will be for readers.

Another way to raise the stakes is to use your characters’ personal flaws against them. A person’s flaws can cause conflict if they are viewed as negative or harmful to others and may even be seen as a source of personal shame or guilt. For example, if you have a character that is impulsive and prone to reckless behavior, you can use this to heighten tension by having them interact with other characters in a manner that could potentially lead to an accident or incident.

Finally, to raise the drama, you can also add elements of passive conflict by having other characters’ expectations of your protagonist defy him. For example, if your hero is expected to win a competition, then have other characters try to steal his victory from him by devious means.

Finally, conflict can be a great tool for team building and organizational development. A skilled manager can use conflict as a means of strengthening the trust and communication between his team members and bringing them closer together. In addition, conflict can be a powerful tool for training employees on how to handle difficult situations effectively and in a mature manner. In addition, conflict can be a wonderful learning opportunity for individuals as it forces them to examine their own biases, perspectives and communication styles. By learning how to manage conflict, people can strengthen their relationships, increase their understanding of the other side and work towards a resolution that benefits everyone.