The Misconception of Constructive Conflict feat. Professor Daan van Knippenberg

Conventional wisdom says that conflict and dissent among an organization’s top leaders can improve strategy and performance. But new research indicates the opposite is true. In fact, dissent at the top often damages working relationships, communication and decision quality. 
In this episode of Owl Have You Know, Daan van Knippenberg joins host Scott Gale ’19 to talk about his research on conflict in leadership. It turns out there is little evidence to support the idea that outcomes improve when leaders disagree on strategy. He explains what CEOs and leaders can do to foster open and constructive dialogue on strategy, even when viewpoints differ. 
He discusses his transition from the Netherlands to the U.S. and the cultural differences he's noticed between the two countries,. He also shares his research on the value of diversity in team decision-making and his passion for developing equity and inclusion practices..Episode Guide: 00:33 Journey into Organizational Behavior03:04 Transition from the Netherlands to the U.S.04:18 Comparing Student Bodies: Rotterdam vs. Pennsylvania10:59 The Decision to Move to Rice University16:53 Deep Dive into Strategic Conflict Research30:30 Recognizing and Engaging with Diversity Perspectives31:41 The Role of Conflict in Team Dynamics32:13 The Subjective Experience of Conflict33:46 The Misconception of Constructive Conflict36:10 The Impact of Conflict on Team Performance44:15 Strategies for Avoiding Oppositional Stances46:06 The Importance of Shared Mental Models52:45 The Impact of Remote Work on Team Dynamics56:22 The Disconnect Between DEI Practices and Team Diversity ResearchOwl Have You Know is a production of Rice Business and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:
You cannot make conflict go away by denying it23:58: There is conflict when you experience that somebody else is getting in the way of what you're trying to achieve. One of the things it means is that you feel that we have a conflict. I cannot make the conflict go away by denying it.
On the value of diversity09:43: The notion that there is value in diversity is based on the idea that if people have different perspectives, you can benefit from the diversity of perspectives. It makes you understand things better. It can make you more creative and can make you make better decisions. It can prevent you from blind spots in your decision-making, et cetera.

Show Links: Transcript

Guest Profile:Daan van Knippenberg | LinkedInDaan van Knippenberg | Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice UniversityDaan van Knippenberg - Google Scholar