Productive Conflict

In an increasingly polarized world, our only chance for coming together and moving forward is to learn from those who have mastered the art and science of disagreement. In this much-needed book, Ian Leslie explores what happens to us when we argue, why disagreement makes us stressed, and why we get angry. By drawing together the lessons he learns from different experts, he proposes a series of clear principles that we can all use to make our most difficult dialogues more productive—and our increasingly acrimonious world a better place.

In the modern workplace, conflict has become a dirty word. After all, conflict is antithetical to teamwork, employee engagement, and a positive company culture. Or is it? The truth is that our teams and organizations require conflict to get things done. But we avoid conflict and build up conflict debt by deferring and dodging the difficult decisions. Our organizations are paying the price - becoming less productive, less innovative, and less competitive.

Did you know that Emotional Intelligence (EI) is a better predictor of success than IQ? You can have all the skills and smarts, but if you aren’t great with people, your personal and professional life will always fall short of your expectations. In every sector, from teaching to manufacturing to law enforcement, brains and brawn no longer cut it. The ability to interact well with others—peers, subordinates, and clients—is what makes candidates highly desirable in today’s competitive market. Improving your EI is not about sitting in a circle and singing kumbaya. It’s about becoming...

Facilitating with Ease! has become the go-to handbook for those who lead meetings, training, and other business gatherings. Packed with information, effective practices, and invaluable advice, this book is the comprehensive handbook for anyone who believes meetings should be productive, relevant, and as short as possible. Dozens of exercises, surveys, and checklists will help transform anyone into a skilled facilitator, and clear, actionable guidance makes implementation a breeze.

Managing Conflict at Work provides practical guidance on how to prevent, contain and resolve conflict in the workplace. It demonstrates how effective conflict management can have a powerful impact on the way organizations channel their energies, encouraging positive mindsets and building stronger and happier workforces. Aimed not just at mediators and conflict practitioners, but at staff managers and anyone who needs to deal with people disputes, the book emphasises simple and practical ways for dealing with conflict situations.

What is the secret of happy relationships? How do companies build collaborative cultures? What lies behind some of the greatest scientific and creative breakthroughs? The surprising answer is: conflict. Whether it's at work, at home or in public, confronting our differences is the only way to make the most out of them. How to Disagree is about how to do that successfully.