Charles Russell Speechlys hosts Hard Conversations and Smart Conflict®, a Women in Leadership event
We were delighted to welcome female leaders and their male allies to our annual flagship event on 28 November.
Led by experienced conflict and leadership team coaches, Louise van Haarst and Alice Driscoll, the evening focused on equipping attendees with the mindsets and skills needed to manage conflict and speak up with confidence and compassion, encouraging attendees to question their own personal approach to conflict. Many of us avoid those difficult conversations and in doing so, we are almost certainly restricting development and growth. Their book ‘Smart Conflict: How to have hard conversations at work’ is available to preorder here.
"Be curious, not furious" was the phrase that resonated with the group. The key takeaway of the event being - do not underestimate the power of asking questions. We must always ask ourselves: why has someone taken the stance they have?; how did we get here?; what can we do to move forward? Don't let your anger and frustrations entrench your position - showing curiosity in these situations can allow conflict to be a force for positive change.
There is strength and knowledge in numbers, and we thank all those who continue to support the Women in Leadership initiative as it continues to grow.
Charles Russell Speechlys is committed to addressing gender imbalance at leadership level. Spearheaded by Corporate team members Sarah Wigington and Grace Hudson, the Women in Leadership initiative works to address gender imbalance at leadership level, both inside and outside the Firm.
For a glimpse of what the evening entailed, or to learn more about the Women in Leadership initiative, watch our highlights video below.
To attend future Women in Leadership events, please register your interest here.
