Conflict Management at Work: Tools for Project Managers & People Leaders
Session Description:
In this interactive session, Dr. Victoria Mattingly—organizational psychologist and workplace allyship expert—will share research-backed strategies for navigating interpersonal tension, resolving team conflict, and fostering collaboration…even when you’re not the one calling the shots. Whether you're a project manager trying to move a stuck team forward or a people leader navigating emotional dynamics, this session will help you lean into conflict as a tool for progress—not dysfunction. You'll walk away with some practical tools to better manage difficult conversations, interrupt unhelpful assumptions, and help your team reach decisions faster, with less friction. Because the ability to navigate conflict isn’t just a skill—it’s a superpower for driving clarity, connection, and forward momentum.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Identify common causes of conflict on cross-functional teams and project-based work
- Apply techniques to de-escalate tension and facilitate decision-making, even without formal authority
- Recognize and disrupt bias-driven assumptions about colleagues' communication and conflict styles
- Practice strategies to manage emotional tension—both your own and others’—with empathy and effectiveness
Victoria Mattingly, PhD (aka Dr. V) is CEO of Mattingly Solutions, a workplace inclusion and culture consulting firm. An organizational psychologist by training, Dr. V has spent the past 13 years helping teams enhance their emotional intelligence, navigate conflict, communicate more effectively, and build trust across lines of difference. Her work focuses on using behavioral science to improve the human experience at work—especially when collaboration feels hard. A proud Pittsburgh boomerang, Dr. V returned to her black and gold roots after living in New Orleans, Portland, Colorado, and Seattle. She’s also a globally acclaimed author (see Inclusalytics) with her next book—Act Like an Ally, Work with an Ally—coming out in August 2025.
