“I suppose it is tempting, if the only tool you have is a hammer, to treat everything as if it were a nail,” observed famous psychologist Abraham Maslow. When it comes to conflict resolution, the only tool that most lawyers get from law school is a hammer.
Hammering your opponent might work in a trial, but it doesn’t create optimal outcomes in a casual disagreement. It doesn’t work very well when your “opponent” is your boss or someone you care about. It doesn’t foster healthy and productive ongoing relationships at the office.
