Tackling Disputes That Never Go Away: A Conversation With Eben Weitzman

When people think about conflict resolution, they often picture a mediator sitting down with a couple of people in an organization to resolve a dispute. Eben Weitzman does some of that, but his real interest lies in resolving deep-seated systemic conflicts in organizations — disputes that “never go away” or where there is a pattern of conflicts constantly arising about what seemed to be different issues but perhaps the conflicts are springing up because of an unidentified  “root cause” that needs to be addressed.

Weitzman directs the conflict resolution program at UMass Boston's Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security and Global Governance. He has worked with a wide range of groups -- from human rights,  healthcare organizations, labor unions, and government -- tackling organizational conflict, cross-cultural conflict, and intergroup relations. In this episode, Eben discusses:

 - Strategies and tools that can help leaders manage the emotional triggers that can sabotage their personal and organizational effectiveness.  - How to develop a diverse leadership team that understands that conflict does not need to be feared, but rather can be a source of growth for the organization.  - Creating an organizational design that lifts people out of their day to day turf battles, sets the direction, and sets criteria for organizational success.

Resources and links: Department of Conflict Resolution, Human Security and Global Governance, University of Massachusetts Boston  Designing Your Organization. (2007) by Amy Kates and Jay R. Galbraith. Jossey-Bass Publishers, an Imprint of Wiley The Star Model, Jay B Galbraith The Cowboy Mentality: Organizers and Occupational Commitment in the New Labor Movement, Daisy Rooks Tracking, developed by Delyte Frost