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Sharon Select Board Chair Kiana Pierre-Louis reviews how to have productive conversations amid tension and volatility during an MMA webinar on April 2.
An MMA webinar today reviewed how to have productive conversations amid tension and volatility.
Sharon Select Board Chair Kiana Pierre-Louis, who’s also assistant dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Northeastern University, began by reviewing the foundational content explored in the first Conflict Conversations webinar in January. She defines a “difficult conversation” as anything that can be hard to talk about.
“In today’s world, everything feels so polarizing,” she said. “Conflict doesn’t feel good, but you must challenge yourself to sit in that discomfort.
“Difficult conversations, at their core, are rarely about getting the facts right,” she continued. “They are about the conflicting perceptions and interpretations of the values of the conversation.”
When navigating conflict, the greatest challenge is understanding how feelings are managed and internalized. Pierre-Louis said it’s important to assume positive intent, keep an open mind, and explore compromise whenever possible.
Pierre-Louis moderated 15 minutes of questions and answers, which addressed inquiries about conflict styles, accusatory language, and how to have difficult conversations across power dynamics.
• Conflict Conversations: Empathetic Dialogue in Volatile Times Part Two: Practical Tips presentation (2M PDF)