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Writer's pictureSuri Surinder

Collaborative Leadership by Havard Law School

Cracking Conflict: Turning Disagreements into Breakthrough Opportunities



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This article discusses how leaders can manage diverse opinions and prepare for conflicts in a way that turns disagreements into productive outcomes. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the underlying logic and interests behind team members' positions to foster a more collaborative environment.


Here’s a summary of the key points on collaborative leadership and managing constructive conflict, expanded and aligned with the CTR Factor fundamentals:


  1. Credibility Through Constructive Conflict: Build credibility as a leader by actively promoting constructive dissent within your team. By encouraging team members to challenge ideas and share differing viewpoints, you create an environment where diverse perspectives lead to more rigorous and informed decision-making. This approach not only enhances the quality of outcomes but also demonstrates your commitment to achieving the best possible results through thoughtful collaboration.

  2. Trust Through Transparent and Inclusive Communication: Strengthen trust within your team by handling conflicts transparently and ensuring that every team member's voice is heard. Utilize strategies such as assigning a devil’s advocate to challenge prevailing ideas and encourage deeper analysis and promote open discussions where team members can explain the reasoning behind their positions. This inclusive communication style fosters strong relationships, as it shows that you value each person's input and are committed to making decisions that reflect the collective wisdom of the team.

  3. Respect Through Ethical and Effective Conflict Management: Show respect for your team members by preparing for conflicts and addressing them ethically and effectively. Encourage open dialogue and active listening to uncover underlying concerns and prevent disagreements from becoming personal or unproductive. When conflicts arise, use informal mediation to guide the team back to constructive discussions, ensuring that all resources, including time and emotional energy, are respected and used wisely. This approach not only maintains focus on the team’s goals but also reinforces your leadership as ethical and supportive, further building the team’s confidence and cohesion.


Participate in the conversation to discuss Cracking Conflict: Turning Disagreements into Breakthrough Opportunities.



Katherine Shonk is the editor of the Negotiation Briefings newsletter, a monthly source of negotiation advice for professionals published by the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. She is also a research associate for Harvard Business School and was formerly employed by the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Shonk received her BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her MA in creative writing from the University of Texas at Austin. She has published articles in the Harvard Business Review and other management journals. An accomplished fiction writer, Shonk is the author of a novel, Happy Now?, and a short story collection, The Red Passport.


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