In partnership with INSEAD, SGLN held an Advanced Dispute Resolution session exploring what it takes to work through disagreement constructively, especially across cultures, organisations, and perspectives.

In today’s complex and interconnected world, conflict is inevitable. For leaders operating in dynamic and ambiguous environments, the ability to navigate high-stakes disagreements with clarity, confidence, and empathy is a critical leadership skill.

Three key insights stood out from the session:

1. Conflicts often stem from unspoken assumptions, differing communication styles, and eroding trust, making it critical to surface underlying interests, power dynamics, and legitimacy concerns early.
2. Effective leaders go beyond “managing conflict”. They de-escalate tension, create space for dialogue, and make sound decisions even when emotions and stakes are high.
3. Leading across contexts requires the ability to build trust, read the room, and adapt to different norms and expectations.

The session was structured in two parts:

Part 1: Advanced Dispute Resolution Workshop

The session began with a hands-on workshop led by Professor Eric Luis Uhlmann, where participants explored how conflicts evolve when assumptions clash, communication styles differ, and trust breaks down. Through practical frameworks and discussion-based learning, participants examined key negotiation dynamics such as interests, legitimacy, and power, and how these can be applied to de-escalate tensions, avoid conflict spirals, and navigate emotionally charged situations. The workshop also surfaced how cultural differences shape perceptions of fairness, and why leaders need to adapt their approach when shared standards are not immediately present.

Part 2: Moderated Panel Dialogue

The workshop was followed by a moderated panel dialogue with Danna Er, Partner at Addleshaw Goddard, and Jerrica Chooi, Country Holding Officer at ABB, moderated by Dr Nadir Zafar, Managing Director, Singapore Leaders Network at HCLI.

During the discussion, Danna and Jerrica shared practical examples from their work, speaking about handling high-stakes disputes, weighing competing interests, and keeping trust intact across different stakeholders. Through real cases and decisions they have had to make, they showed how these challenges play out in practice, and what it takes to move conversations forward when there are no easy answers.

The session brought together academic frameworks and practitioner perspectives, offering SGLN members practical ways to approach disagreement with greater awareness, discipline, and confidence.