Conflict Resolution Lessons from JFK: Focus on the Positive

A note to young leaders.

In conflict resolution – ignore the negative, respond only to the positive.

In 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev installed missiles in Cuba, 90 miles from Florida and within striking distance of 80 million Americans. US President, John F Kennedy told him to remove the missiles, or else. As Soviet ships with more missiles moved towards Cuba, a U.S. naval blockade was set up to stop them.

With the world teetering on the brink of nuclear war, Khrushchev sent two letters to Kennedy, within hours of each other.

The first letter was private and conciliatory. The second was announced publicly and was more defiant.

How would President Kennedy respond?

“We ignore the second letter and respond to the first”, was Kennedy’s brilliant insight.

What you focus on, expands.

Ignore the negative. Focus on the positive.