Conflict management as a leadership skill

Conflicts rarely arise suddenly. More often, they emerge from unresolved differences that are not recognized or addressed constructively. When early signals are overlooked and psychological escalation mechanisms are not understood, differences can develop into destructive conflicts.

In this lecture, Friedrich Glasl will explore how conflicts evolve, which underlying psychological dynamics drive escalation, and how leaders can intervene at an early stage. Drawing on fundamental principles and proven methods of conflict management, the lecture will provide insights into how destructive conflicts can be prevented and how differences can be used productively.

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Friedrich Glasl is a renowned conflict researcher and has been active for over five decades as an international mediator in organizations as well as in peace processes worldwide.

Friedrich Glasl (born 1941 in Vienna) is an Austrian political scientist and an internationally recognized conflict researcher, organizational consultant, and mediator. After completing vocational training as a typesetter, he studied political science at the University of Vienna, with psychology as a minor subject, and earned his doctorate there in 1967. Alongside professional work in printing companies, he also worked for UNESCO. From 1967 to 1985, he served as a consultant at the NPI Institute for Organizational Development in the Netherlands; in 1985, he co-founded Trigon Entwicklungsberatung.

Friedrich Glasl taught organizational development, conflict management, and mediation at universities in Europe and beyond and was a visiting professor at the State University of Tbilisi. He is the author of numerous textbooks and educational films on leadership, organization, organizational development, conflict management, mediation, and peace processes. His lifetime achievements have been honored with several awards, including the Socrates Mediation Award (2014), the D.A.CH Mediation Award (2015), and the Life Achievement Award (2017).