Welcome to Proflict™
The New Science of Positive Conflict
Start-ups don’t fail because of bad ideas—they fail most often due to the inability to resolve tensions, skillfully challenge perspectives and embrace positive friction.
Take the Proflict Quiz
Discover your conflict style and learn how to turn friction into fuel.
Innovation creates Conflict. Conflict kills Innovation.
Start ups 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 startup 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.
Based on neuroscience combined with years of experience work start-up founder dynamics Proflict™ is a ground breaking systems that will re engineer how you view and engage with conflict.
The New Science of Positive Conflict
Proflict is not about winning arguments. It’s about building resilient, high-performing teams through honest dialogue and creative tension.
Instead of avoiding conflict or escalating it, Proflict shows you how to:
  • Turn disagreement into discovery
  • Transform friction into focus
  • Replace artificial harmony with courageous clarity
Built from the front lines of startups, leadership psychology, and neuroscience — Proflict is built for the reality of modern teams.
Proflict is for Founders, Teams & Investors
Because good ideas need courageous conversations.
Keynote Speaking
Provocative, story-driven talks for founder summits, accelerators, and investor retreats.
Workshops
Half- or full-day Proflict Labs to build conflict capacity in your leadership team.
Executive Coaching
1:1 or team-based programs to turn high-stakes tension into performance breakthroughs.
Book a free intro session or send a question.
Coming Soon:
Proflict — The Book
Proflict: The Transformative Power of Positive Conflict
by Stephen Stynes
You’ll learn:
  • Why traditional conflict resolution fails in high-growth environments
  • The neuroscience behind Proflict
  • A 10-step framework to lead through tension
  • How to build a Proflict culture — from boardroom to brainstorm
Meet Stephen Stynes
Stephen Stynes is an entrepreneur, leadership coach, and 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 2-minute Proflict Quiz to uncover how you show up in high-stakes conversations.
Get instant insights — and unlock our free guide: “The 10 Laws of Proflict.”
Let’s Talk
Want to bring Proflict to your team, board, or offsite?
Curious about coaching or speaking?
Let’s start a conversation.