The Early Flag System

The cheapest conflict to resolve is the one that never fully forms. Every conflict sends warning signals before it erupts:

• a slight change in tone
• shorter responses than usual
• avoided eye contact
• quiet withdrawal from the conversation

Train yourself to notice these early flags and address them right away with a simple check-in: "I noticed something shifted — are we good?" It costs five seconds and can prevent hours of fallout. Build the habit in your closest relationships first.