Navigating Tension and Resolving Conflict: Strategies for Board Members

Conflict is an inevitable part of any organization, but when managed effectively, it can lead to innovation, growth, and stronger relationships. In this interactive workshop, board members will explore practical strategies for navigating tension and resolving conflicts within the boardroom setting. Through case studies, group discussions, and role-playing exercises, participants will gain valuable insights to address conflict areas. Potential areas of conflict can be decision-making processes, authority dynamics, and alignment with organizational values, such as diversity, equity, and inclusion. Join us for this dynamic workshop designed to equip board members with the tools and insights needed to navigate tension and foster collaborative resolutions, ultimately strengthening board effectiveness and organizational impact. In this workshop, participants will:

• Understand the Role of Conflict: Board members will develop a stronger understanding of the different types of conflict that can arise within board settings, including how conflicts manifest around decision-making, authority, role clarity, and values.
• Develop Conflict Resolution Skills: Participants will learn and practice effective communication techniques, active listening strategies, and negotiation tactics to address and resolve conflicts constructively within the boardroom environment.
• Foster Inclusive Decision-Making: Board members will explore approaches to promote transparent decision-making processes, ensuring that all voices are heard and valued.

Align Actions with Organizational Values: Through interactive exercises and discussions, participants will assess how conflicts within the boardroom may stem from differing interpretations of organizational values. They will explore strategies for aligning actions with these values to foster a cohesive and mission-driven board culture. This workshop is free, but registration is required. Please click here to register. If you have any questions about this session, please reach out to Alana Peck at alana@gnof.org.

Meet Your Presenter

Makiyah Moody

Makiyah Moody (she/her) is founder, president, and creative genius at Kairos & Heart LLC where she helps organizations ask and answer critical questions about how to advance their missions. A skilled facilitator and governance specialist, Makiyah launched Kairos & Heart in August 2021 after realizing that being and doing are different and she wanted to explore different design choices for partnering with organizational leaders.

Prior to becoming a business owner, Makiyah sharpened her consulting skills at La Piana Consulting, directed governance initiatives for the Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools, was founding executive director of the New Orleans regional office of Leading Educators and held various roles over six years with the KIPP Foundation. Additionally, she was a 2013 participant in the Aspen Institute’s Roundtable on Community Change Racial Equity Leadership Development Seminar, is a Pahara Institute Fellow, an Executive Scholar with the Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and a BoardSource Certified Governance Consultant.

Makiyah currently lives in southern New Hampshire where fun includes global travel, whale watching, cooking, running, craftmaking, and painting. She is the author of six books including Recruitment Rhapsody: Harmonizing Boards for Success, From Tension to Transformation: A Board’s Guide to Flourishing, and Ayo Bayo Goes to Accra.