Summary of "A Fresh Approach to Resolving Conflicts | Darya Shaikh | TED"

Darya Shaikh presents a novel perspective on conflict, reframing it as an opportunity for innovation, creativity, and hope rather than destruction or division. Drawing on her extensive experience working in highly contested environments, including Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts and corporate culture change, she introduces a tool called the Three Horizons framework as a method to transform conflicts into productive conversations that enable collaboration and trust.

Main Ideas and Concepts

Reframing Conflict Conflict doesn’t have to lead to rage, numbness, or broken relationships. Instead, it can spark innovation, creativity, and hope if approached correctly.
Darya Shaikh’s Background She has worked for over 20 years in contested spaces, from geopolitical conflicts to corporate mergers and humanitarian aid, focusing on creating conditions for better conversations and collaboration.
The Challenge in Conflict Situations Conflicts often involve entrenched positions, power struggles, passive aggression, and "othering," leading to negative outcomes like blame, vilification, and paralysis.
Introduction of the Three Horizons framework A futures tool used to map and understand change over time, helping groups see shared values and collective agency.

The Three Horizons framework Explained

Axes of the Framework
- Horizontal axis: Time (from present to future)
- Vertical axis: Dominance of patterns or ways of working
Horizon One (H1): Business-as-Usual
- Represents the current dominant system or pattern.
- Stable but showing signs of strain and becoming less fit for purpose.
- Voice of pragmatism and management (e.g., CEOs, traditional workers).
Horizon Three (H3): Emerging Future
- Represents the future pattern that will eventually replace H1.
- Contains early examples or “pockets” of innovation already present today (e.g., self-driving cars).
- Voice of the dreamer, artist, activist, or younger generation.
Horizon Two (H2): The Transition Zone
- The bridge between H1 and H3.
- The space of innovation, entrepreneurship, and transformation.
- Can lead to incremental or transformative change.
- Voice of the entrepreneur or builder, often brokering between H1 and H3.

Dynamics Between Horizons

The three horizons often conflict like different voices in a conversation, each with their own mindset and interests.
Without shared purpose or direction, these voices become adversarial, leading to negative conflict and stagnation.
The framework helps reframe these horizons as complementary rather than oppositional:
- H1 as heritage and a necessary foundation.
- H3 as inspiration and courage.
- H2 as the practical builder and implementer.
No single horizon is the hero; all three must collaborate for successful change.

Application Example: Corporate Merger

Shaikh facilitated a closed-door strategy session with a skeptical team undergoing a complex merger.
Used the Three Horizons tool to:
1. Introduce the three voices to shift mindset from negative to positive.
2. Start with Horizon Three, imagining a future state (3 years post-merger) where they are proud of their purpose and value.
3. Move back to Horizon One to identify current obstacles and behaviors to let go.
4. Explore Horizon Two to find existing innovations and momentum to leverage.
Result: The team developed a shared vision, felt energized, and saw abundance and possibility rather than conflict and scarcity.

Lessons and Takeaways

Conflicts are inevitable and omnipresent, ranging from devastating to seemingly minor but still impactful.
People want to feel their contributions matter and that they have agency in shaping their world.
The Three Horizons framework is a powerful tool to:
- Understand complex change processes.
- Create shared language and trust.
- Value different perspectives and contributions.
- Move beyond blame and stagnation toward collaboration and transformation.
Better conflicts are not about avoiding fights but about fighting in ways that build a future everyone can be proud of.

Methodology / Instructions for Using Three Horizons in Conflict Resolution

Map the Current Reality (Horizon One):
- Identify the dominant patterns, practices, and mindsets that are stable but showing strain.
- Recognize what needs to be let go or changed.
Envision the Desired Future (Horizon Three):
- Imagine a future state where the conflict is resolved or transformed.
- Suspend disbelief and explore what success looks like, including values and purpose.
Identify the Transition Zone (Horizon Two):
- Find innovations, experiments, and emerging initiatives that