Center for Social Innovation

Published: April 27, 2009 Download  1 hour 08 minutes, 31.4mb, recorded 2008-09-23

Why do some teams turn differences into divides, while others use differences to conquer and master their toughest challenges? This was the question that kept arising again and again when Diana McLain Smith began working as a consultant with leaders and teams some 30 years ago. In this talk, sponsored by the Stanford Center for Social Innovation, Smith shares findings from her book, Divide and Conquer: How Great Teams Turn Conflict into Strength, about the way in which work relationships can make or break the success of individuals, teams, and entire enterprises. Fielding audience questions, she offers perspectives on how relational patterns affect personalities and interactions, and provides techniques for systematically making professional relationships better.

Diana McLain Smith is a partner at the Monitor Group, a global strategy consulting firm. For nearly three decades, she has advised hundreds of leaders while doing research on leadership, negotiation, and organizational behavior. She has taught at the Boston College Carroll School of Management and guest lectured at the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation.