BRWN-001016 - From Destructive to Generative: Reframing Conflict for Effective Leadership and Healthy Teams
Preferred registration deadline: May 1st
3 CEs
Conflict is an inevitable part of working with others, yet it’s often viewed as something to avoid – a mindset that can erode trust and leadership effectiveness. This interactive workshop helps leaders shift from seeing conflict as challenging or destructive to recognizing it as a source of clarity, connection, and growth. Through personal reflection, group dialogue, and skill practice, participants will examine the experiences and behaviors that shape their responses to conflict. Together, we’ll explore how social identity, power dynamics, and cultural norms (such as the “right to comfort” and “fear of conflict”) influence our comfort and capacity to engage conflict in healthy, generative ways. Participants will leave with greater confidence and skill to navigate tension productively and foster more open, accountable dialogue within their teams.
This is an in-person workshop that will be held on Washington University’s Danforth Campus. The exact location and directions will be emailed to registered participants before the course date.
General Admission: $65**
**Eligible discounts can be applied during checkout.
Class size is limited to 35.
Course Outline
Content Level: Beginner
Target Audiences:
Agenda:
- Welcome & Framing - 15 mins
- Redefining & Understanding Conflict: Mindset Shift - 50 mins
- Conflict Styles: Individual & Cultural Tendencies - 60 mins
- Making the Shift: Practicing Generative Conflict - 35 mins
- Reflection & Closing - 20 mins
Learner Outcomes
- Identify and explain common narratives and sources of conflict to reframe conflict as a natural and generative part of effective leadership and healthy team culture.
- Recognize and describe individual conflict tendencies and comfort levels through a conflict styles assessment and guided reflection.
- Examine how social identity, power dynamics, and cultural norms shape experiences of and responses to conflict.
- Apply practical strategies for engaging in conflict more productively.
Course Completion Requirements:
The Brown School is an approved provider of Social Work CEs in Missouri and Illinois. To earn credit, attendees must arrive at the scheduled time, attend the entire course, and complete an online course evaluation. You may still qualify for partial Social Work Missouri and Illinois CEs if you miss part of the training. CE Certificates will be available online within 10 business days of course completion by visiting your learner profile at https://ce.wustl.edu/portal/logon.do?method=load&parentSite=brown. You will receive an email notification with specific instructions for accessing the online certificate when it is available.
For more information about CEs, accessibility, refund/cancelation policy, our grievance policy or other inquiries please visit our About Us page or email brownprofdev@wustl.edu.