Navigating Change in the Public Sector

Navigating Change in the Public Sector: How to Leverage Conflict for Success

In an increasingly complex, knowledge-based world, publics are demanding more from their local, state, and federal governments. To meet these expectations, government agencies are modernizing.

But organizational change is a difficult and complicated process that often fails, despite everyone’s best intentions. Research shows that low-performing change efforts can have negative effects, including low morale, high turnover, reduced productivity, and heightened cynicism.

While there are myriad reasons change initiatives fail, many unsuccessful efforts can be traced to ineffective conflict management. On the flip side, those engaged in successful efforts know that conflict is an inherent and healthy part of the process. Furthermore, improved conflict-handling skills give government employees a better chance to successfully implement change.

Dr. Gail Fann Thomas, conflict management expert and emerita faculty at the Naval Postgraduate School, shares how the US Navy’s graduate school is navigating a multi-year transformation and what insights might help you with your own change initiative. Watch this webinar to learn:

Why and how conflict surfaces during all stages of the change process.
How conflict management education can contribute to effective organizational change—for both individuals and teams involved in the process.
Tips for using the TKI^® instrument to assess people’s conflict-handling preferences and explain how those impact others.
Ways to effectively manage three types of conflict (process, interpersonal, and task) to improve any agency’s change efforts.