Ideas worth exploring.

A curated collection of books, research and professional resources that inform our thinking about conflict, leadership, organizational systems and psychologically safe workplaces.

Difficult Conversations

Douglas Stone, Bruce Patton & Sheila Heen

A practical framework for approaching conversations where emotions, identity and differing perspectives make productive dialogue difficult.

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The Fearless Organization

Amy C. Edmondson

An influential exploration of psychological safety and the conditions organizations need to create for people to speak up, learn, collaborate and innovate.

The Organizational Ombuds

Edited by Shannon Lynn Burton & Loraleigh Keashly

A comprehensive examination of organizational Ombuds practice, including its foundations, application, organizational role, systems change and future direction.

Research worth reading.

Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams

Amy C. Edmondson · Administrative Science Quarterly

A foundational study examining psychological safety as a shared team belief and its relationship to learning behaviour and team performance. Edmondson’s study involved 51 work teams and found psychological safety associated with team learning behaviour.

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How to Manage Conflict at Work

Katie Shonk · Harvard Program on Negotiation

An accessible examination of workplace conflict and strategies for addressing underlying interests, emotions and organizational approaches rather than allowing conflict to remain unresolved.

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Mediation: An Approach to Resolving Workplace Conflict

Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD)

Practical guidance on when workplace mediation can help address conflict and restore working relationships, as well as circumstances where formal processes may be more appropriate.

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