CNSPulse

COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT: PRACTICAL TOOLS FOR EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP IN RESEARCH

Ynhi Thomas — Baylor College of Medicine and Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center Erica Kaczmarek, University of Toronto Nidhi Kulkarni, Centre for Youth Bipolar Disorder, CAMH Ivan Montoya, DHHS/National Institute on Drug Abuse Holly Swartz, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Crystal Clark, University of Toronto, Women's College Hospital Nicholas Murphy, Texas A&M University, Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine Danica Johnson, University of Toronto

2026 ASCP Annual Meeting

Effective leadership in psychiatry and behavioral health research requires navigating interpersonal challenges with clarity, empathy, and professionalism. Miscommunication and unresolved conflict can erode collaboration, morale, and outcomes. This interactive two-hour workshop will equip participants with evidence-based tools to manage difficult conversations and reframe conflict as an opportunity for growth. The session begins with a brief didactic overview of communication and conflict management frameworks, including active listening, perspective-taking, and negotiation strategies drawn from organizational psychology and medical leadership training. Participants will complete the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI®) to identify their individual conflict style and reflect on how these tendencies shape professional interactions. A moderated panel discussion will follow, featuring Drs. Ivan Montoya, Holly Swartz, Mahavir Agarwal, and Alexander Aaronson, who will share experiences navigating challenging situations that required self-advocacy and boundary setting and discuss the communication strategies they used to resolve them. Building on these insights, a didactic segment will introduce reframing techniques and practical communication tools to transform conflict into collaboration. Participants will receive digital “pocket mantras” synthesized from leadership curricula from Harvard Business School and the literature. Small-group breakout sessions will provide opportunities for attendees to apply these strategies to personal scenarios, engage in peer reflection, and set concrete goals for improving communication and conflict management in their professional environments.

Learning Objective 1: Identify their individual conflict management style and describe how it influences professional interactions.

Learning Objective 2: Apply evidence-based communication strategies to reframe conflict, de-escalate tension, and establish professional boundaries.

References

  1. Thomas KW, Kilmann RH. Thomas‐Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. XICOM; 1974. 2) Wolfe AD, Hoang KB, Denniston SF. Teaching conflict resolution in medicine: lessons from business, diplomacy, and theatre. MedEdPORTAL. 2018;14:10672. 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Panel Sessions