Have You Built Up Your Conflict Intelligence?

In this HBR IdeaCast episode, host Adi Ignatius interviews Peter Coleman, a professor at Columbia University, about conflict in the workplace and how leaders can develop "conflict intelligence" to manage it effectively. Coleman discusses the importance of balancing candor with civility, understanding the conditions under which conflict can be constructive, and developing competencies like self-control, social skills, and adaptivity. The conversation explores the complexities of CEO activism, the challenges of employees bringing their "whole selves" to work, and strategies for setting expectations and ground rules to address potential conflicts. Coleman shares examples of successful conflict resolution from figures like George Mitchell and Nelson Mandela, and offers practical advice for building organizations that consistently display high conflict intelligence, including modeling appropriate behavior, providing training, and using tools like Rapport to proactively address employee concerns.