Harvard’s Science of Conflict: Train Your Brain for Resilience with Bob Bordone

How can leaders turn tension into teamwork, and disagreement into innovation? In this episode of the Strategy and Leadership Podcast, Anthony Taylor speaks with Bob Bordone, USA Today Bestselling Author, Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, and nationally recognized expert in negotiation and conflict resolution.

Bob has spent his career helping people navigate the most challenging conversations—in politics, education, corporate life, and everyday relationships. His new book, Conflict Resilience, explores a research-backed approach to talking across divides without losing our values, our relationships, or the integrity of our organizations.

For executives and organizational leaders, conflict resilience is fast becoming a 21st-century leadership imperative. Unresolved tension can stall decision-making, erode trust, and weaken culture. Building conflict resilience means learning to reframe disagreement, manage emotion, and transform friction into creativity and connection.

In this episode, Bob shares how leaders can develop conflict resilience as a leadership superpower—and how it’s reshaping the way organizations communicate, collaborate, and grow.

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In this episode, you’ll learn:

☑️ Why C-suite leaders need conflict resilience as a core leadership skill

☑️ How to reframe conflict as opportunity instead of threat

☑️ Real-world strategies for handling tough conversations at work

☑️ The five neurological “F’s” that shape how we respond to conflict

☑️ How to build a culture of psychological safety and productive disagreement

This episode is for:

▶️ CEOs and executives navigating organizational change▶️ Managers seeking to improve team communication and trust▶️ Leaders building diverse, high-performing teams▶️ Anyone looking to turn conflict into a catalyst for growth

About the Guest

Bob Bordone is a USA Today Bestselling Author, Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School, and a nationally recognized conflict resolution expert. He founded Harvard’s Negotiation and Mediation Clinic and has taught negotiation and conflict management for over two decades. His book, Conflict Resilience, co-authored with a neuroscientist, offers a groundbreaking framework for strengthening relationships and leading through difference.

Learn more: www.conflictresiliencebook.com Connect with Bob on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/robert-bordone-3a3256

About the Host

Anthony Taylor is the CEO, Founder, and Senior Facilitator at SME Strategy. With over 14 years of experience, he helps leadership teams create alignment, implement strategy, and achieve results worldwide.

Connect with Anthony: linkedin.com/in/anthonyctaylor604

About SME Strategy

SME Strategy is a management consulting firm specializing in strategic planning and implementation. We help organizations align their teams around a shared vision so they can focus on what truly drives results.

Learn more: smestrategy.net

Podcast produced by: Rednyne Productions