Workforce
The Art and Science of Constructive Disagreement
One of the most pervasive and difficult challenges leaders face is effective management of conflict. Books, blogs and podcasts hail the organizational benefits of engaging with diverse perspectives, fostering productive disagreement, and creating “teams of rivals.” Yet anyone who has ever engaged in such work knows that disagreements on strongly held, identity-related issues are always difficult and frequently destructive. This is truer today than ever, as topics ranging from the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements to environmentalism and remote work have elevated both the need for thoughtful discussion and the desire to avoid it.
This program will help participants grapple with their approach to conflict management using cutting edge social science research and pedagogical approaches. The day will blend small group exercises, self-assessments and discussion of research findings to give participants insight into their own conflict management strengths and challenges; introduce them to research validated techniques for engaging with opposing views; and design organizational strategies for building a culture of civil disagreement.
Every day conflict destroys families, organizations, and nations. Yet, disagreement is an inevitable part of our social lives and is required for both wise personal decision-making and even the functioning of society. In this course, we will work to understand the dynamics of interpersonal disagreement, how it turns into conflict, and what to do about it. Based on academic insights from psychology, economics, and decision science as well as practical insights from expert mediators, this course will offer students both a better understanding of the psychology of disagreement and conflict, as well as practical tools for managing such situations. At the conclusion of the course, students will have learned frameworks and concepts for thinking and communicating about conflict and have advanced their skills around disagreeing constructively both in their personal and professional relationships.
Each session will include an in-depth presentation of each topic, breakout sessions and/or activities.
Week 1: The challenges of conversations across disagreement
- Identify and overcome the barriers to dissent
- Explore strategies to amplify disagreement
- Recognize what drives negative attributions for disagreement
- Analyze biases in evaluating evidence and arguments
- Understand personality characteristics that impact conflict
Week 3: Conflict de-escalation through effective inquiry
- Evaluate and formulate goals in disagreement
- Demonstrate learning goals to your counterpart
- Inquire effectively
Week 4: Conversational receptiveness and the H.E.A.R framework
- Express receptiveness to opposing views
- Practice conversational receptiveness
Week 5: Personal narratives and trust building
- Bolster perceptions of authenticity by sharing your story
- build trust and credibility while making your case
Weekly sessions are online from 9:00 – 10:30 AM on Tuesdays.
September 30 – October 28, 2025
$2,550 per person.
Group discounts are available for 3+ attendees.
Program fee includes course materials and a certificate of completion.
A digital Certificate of Completion will be awarded to participants upon successful completion of the program. Successful completion of the program will be based on attendance of virtual sessions.
Constructive Disagreement Info Session
Tuesday, March 11, 11:00 – 11:30 AM
Julia Minson, PhD
Julia Minson is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. Her main line of research addresses the “psychology of disagreement” – How do people engage with opinions, values, and judgments that conflict with their own? Her work examines disagreements around hot-button, identity-relevant topics — conflicts around politics, values, and professional and health decision-making.
Julia teaches courses and workshops on negotiations, decision science, and conflict management. Her work has been published in top academic and business outlets as well as widely covered by popular media including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post.
Prior to coming to the Kennedy School, Julia served as an Adjunct Lecturer at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, where she taught Negotiations at both the MBA and the undergraduate levels. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Stanford University and her BA in Psychology from Harvard University.
