Proflict®
The New Science
of Positive Conflict
Companies don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail most often due to the inability to resolve tensions, skilfully challenge perspectives and embrace positive friction.
When it comes to start-ups and fast growing scale-ups the cost of poorly managed conflict can be devastating.
72%* of founders report that running their business has a negative impact on their mental health.

Learning how to better manage conflict is the No. 1 skill
leaders need today to create better teamwork, better organisations and a better world.
Source: Start Up Snapshot 2023
Innovation creates Conflict.
Conflict kills Innovation.
Companies stall, and often fail because the real conversations aren’t happening. Tension builds. Co-founders drift. Nobody says what they’re really thinking. Then it’s too late.
Conflict, when mismanaged, is one of the top drivers of start-up failure. Consider:
  • 65% of startups break down because of interpersonal conflict within the founding team.
  • The overall startup failure rate sits between 75–90%, and internal dynamics quietly accelerate collapse.
But the problem with conflict is not the issue itself. It is the mindset that we bring to it.
'Conflict exist strictly as an opportunity to raise our consciousness'
 -Carl Jung
The Great Conflict Myth
The best communication comes from how we are, not what we say.
We are neurologically wired to react to conflict — it’s how we survived as a species. But in today’s world of nonstop stimulus and complexity, those same primitive responses work against us.

Conflict does not have to be negative. In fact, properly harnessed it is the fuel for creativity, open sharing and growth.
Founders and teams need a different set of skills: the ability to pause the reactive process, access higher-level thinking, and transform tension into traction.
Learn to turn Conflict into Growth.
Most leaders treat conflict as something to resolve — quickly, and at any cost. But research shows conflict doesn’t come inherently from the issue; it comes from the state of mind people bring to the issue.
Without the skills to engage positively, conflict spirals into lost productivity, broken relationships, and missed opportunities — all at the exact moment a scaling business can least afford it.
Proflict is built on the Five Principles of Positive Conflict® — proven, practical, neuroscience-based principles that rewire how founders and teams engage and transform then energy in your organisation.
Ready to Transform Conflict into Growth?
Because good ideas need courageous conversations.
Keynote Talks
Inspire your team with powerful insights on turning conflict into competitive advantage. Perfect for conferences, company off sites, and leadership summits.
Team Workshops
Interactive sessions that equip your team with practical Proflict techniques. Walk away with tools to navigate disagreements and unlock collective genius.
Founder Coaching
One-on-one guidance for founders ready to master the art of positive conflict. Build the skills to lead through tension and drive breakthrough results.
Coming Soon: Proflict — The Book
PROFLICT: The New Science of Positive Conflict
by Stephen Stynes
The definitive guide to harnessing conflict for breakthrough innovation and building a vibrant culture.

Packed with proven frameworks, actionable strategies, and real-world case studies, this book will show you how to turn disagreements into your greatest competitive advantage.
Get a copy of the 5 Principles of Positive Conflict free and start transforming hard conversations
5 Principles of Positive Conflict PDF
Meet Stephen Stynes
Stephen Stynes is an entrepreneur, leadership coach, team facilitator and the inventor of Proflict. He is a faculty member at IESE, one of Europe’s top ranked business schools, and a founding member of IESE’s Foundations of Scaling program, now entering its fourth successful year. He works with high-growth founders across 3 continents and is based in Barcelona, Spain.
What's Your Conflict Style?
Take the Free Proflict Test.
Changing how you deal with conflict starts with awareness.

Take the Proflict Quiz now to uncover how you show up in high-stakes conversations.

You will receive the results instantly along with some practical tips on how to get better.
What´s On Your Mind?
Got a question? Want to know more? Want to bring Proflict to your team, board, or offsite?
We would be delighted to hear from you and we respond to all messages.

Let’s start a conversation.
Proflict is a registered trademark. All rights reserved 2025.