Conflict and Challenging Conversations
Conflict and Challenging Conversations
Do you foster an environment for healthy conflict?
Conflict can be productive or unproductive. Healthy, productive conflict brings forward new ideas and perspectives to strengthen your organization.
In this workshop, you will learn how to embrace productive conflict and develop key skills to resolve unproductive conflict.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop, you will be able to:
- Identify strategies to recognize and embrace productive team conflict.
- Develop strategies to depersonalize conflict, respond more effectively to the emotional content of conflict, and focus on the issues that matter.
- Apply the process of preparing for, holding, and following up on crucial conversations.
- Build confidence and comfort with challenging conversations.
Suggested Participants:
Executive Directors/CEOs, board members and other senior leaders of non-profit organizations.
Workshop Benefits:
- A healthier perspective around workplace conflict.
- Reflection around the importance of trust and accountability in conflict.
- Share and exchange workplace challenges with other non-profit leaders.
Facilitator
Jess McKeown
Jess is an enthusiastic leader with extensive experience in evaluation, research, and knowledge mobilization across education and social services. With a background in the sciences, an M.Ed., and formal leadership training, she creates environments where teams are empowered to think critically and creatively, turn evidence into action, and drive meaningful change through thoughtful strategy and communication.
From 2019 to 2025, Jess worked remotely for Blueprint, a Toronto-based nonprofit consultancy that helps leaders across Canada use data and evidence to tackle complex challenges. As Associate Director, she led major initiatives with the Future Skills Centre, including national research and innovation projects focused on the future of learning and work.
She is currently offering her expertise independently and volunteering her time to initiatives that strengthen leadership, learning, and organizational capacity. Jess is especially interested in connecting with organizations and individuals where her skills in evaluation, research, and knowledge mobilization can add value.
