Managing Conflict in the Boardroom
30 November 2023
The latest event for the FT Board Network took “managing conflict” as its theme.
Too often conflict is managed badly and turns into destructive behaviour. This can destroy livelihoods and even lives.
Yet in a board and leadership context, conflict that is managed well can be a force for good. Conflicting ideas, objectives and personalities are powerful stimulants for creativity. They also help guard against the dangers of groupthink.
Given the pressures, uncertainty and volatility of recent years, many successful leaders and organisations have been defined to a high degree by how well they manage conflict.
This peer to peer workshop focused on how best to manage conflict in a leadership setting. The aim was to learn from each other and share practical ideas to deal with common and
topical conflicts.
Participants looked at areas including misaligned objectives and conflicting styles as well as
situations such as boardroom and other workplace divisions.
It was led by Patrick Dunne, a company chair who has worked in Europe, Asia, Africa and
America, is the author of Boards, an award-winning book that is a practical guide to working
on or with a board of directors.
He is also a tutor on the Financial Times Board Director Programme.
Managing Conflict Well: an Underacknowledged Super Power, an article written by Dunne,
summarises the best ways to manage conflict.
Learning points from the group sessions included:
- The importance of being self-aware and understanding the nature of specific conflicts
- Learning to respond rather than react
- Distinguishing between worrying and thinking. Worrying is natural but is unlikely to help solve a conflict – while thinking might.
- The power of the Fido technique designed by Leap Confronting Conflict, a British charity. Fido helps people weigh up Facts and Interpretations and reach Decisions so that they can achieve the outcomes they seek.
The ability to manage conflict well is an essential attribute for chief executives and board members, whether they are in a business, charity, social enterprise or a public body.
The FT Board Network is planning its events for the next 12 months. We would be delighted to hear from you if you have a theme you would like to discuss.
