Event Experience



Join us for the Leading When it’s Tough: High-Stakes Leadership with Conflict, Pressure, and Constraints event which will be delivered online via synchronous and asynchronous engagement opportunities.

Schedule

  • Session 1: June 15, 2026 | 12 noon–1:00pm ET
  • Session 2: June 22, 2026 | 12 noon–2:00pm ET
  • Session 3: June 29, 2026 | 12 noon–2:00pm ET

Sessions

Session 1 | Leading through Change and Conflict

Change and conflict are inevitable in leadership—particularly in higher education environments leaders navigate evolving priorities, financial pressures, and institutional transformation. Yet when poorly handled, resistance and unresolved disagreement can erode trust, stall progress, and damage team performance.

In this session, you will explore the psychology of change and the underlying dynamics that drive resistance. You will learn how to identify different types of disagreement, diagnose root causes of conflict, and apply practical techniques that move conversations and negotiations forward without shutting people down. Through structured discussion and applied examples, you will leave with strategies to engage resistance productively and create healthier pathways through disagreement.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Recognize common psychological responses to change and sources of resistance.
  • Differentiate between productive disagreement and destructive conflict.
  • Apply structured approaches to resolving conflict without shutting people down or eroding accountability.

Session 2 | Managing Constraints and Recovering from Poor Results

Leaders are often asked to deliver results without the resources they believe are necessary to succeed. Budget limitations, staffing shortages, and shifting priorities can create frustration and disengagement—especially when teams feel their needs are unheard. At the same time, even strong teams sometimes fall short of goals, leaving leaders to respond in ways that restore momentum without damaging morale.

This session focuses on leading with authenticity and accountability when your team lacks necessary resources and knows it. You will examine how to communicate transparently about constraints without becoming merely a messenger or offering false hope. You will also implement structured approaches to address performance gaps that reinforce ownership, motivate renewed effort, and maintain trust.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Communicate resource constraints with clarity and credibility without disappointing your team even more.
  • Lead teams through disappointment or poor results, even after great effort, without undermining morale.
  • Balance accountability and encouragement when addressing performance gaps for individuals or teams.

Session 3 | Building Resilience and Reigniting Vision

Sustained stress and burnout can quietly erode even high-performing teams. When pressure becomes chronic or episodic crises accumulate, leaders must actively support resilience and re-anchor their teams in a shared sense of purpose.

In this session, you will examine the root causes and signals of team stress and explore practical approaches to strengthening resilience at both the individual and team level. You will explore how to clarify purpose, reconnect to mission and values, and energize teams when motivation has faded or change fatigue has set in.

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

  • Identify signs and root causes of chronic or episodic team stress.
  • Implement strategies that strengthen resilience and sustainable performance.
  • Reestablish vision, mission, and shared purpose to counter burnout and disengagement.