Your learning experience
Conflict, when mishandled, can damage productivity and reputation, costing UK businesses an estimated £30 billion annually. This Executive Education short course equips leaders and individuals at all organisational levels with essential skills to effectively navigate change and manage conflict, enhancing profitability and organisational resilience.
The course empowers participants to turn resistance into growth, foster team cohesion, and drive successful organisational outcomes.
This in-person programme offers an exceptional learning experience, combining interactive small-group sessions with your peers in the beautiful, historic setting of St Andrews, home to our world-class University.
Taught by our experts, you will benefit from lectures, interactive discussions and real-world case studies.
Indicative course content
Day one: Foundations of conflict and personal awareness
- Welcome and course overview
- Review of pre-course assessments
- Establishing group norms
- Conflict theory and psychological biases
- Personal conflict management styles
- Functional versus dysfunctional conflict
- Role of emotions in conflict
Day two: Developing conflict resolution skills
- Effective listening and communication skills
- Negotiation strategies
- Motivational interviewing techniques
- Understanding resistance
Day three: Leadership in change and crisis
- Connection between conflict management and crisis leadership
- Managing team dynamics
- Developing personal action plans
- Testing conflict resolution skills – role play and feedback
Course conclusion and reflections
Who is it for?
This for professionals who are new to management and leadership positions, through to middle and senior managers and leaders across a variety of organisations and sectors.
How will your organisation benefit?
Sending participants on this four-day programme will enable your organisation to:
- Reduce costs and protect reputation: poorly handled conflict can be expensive, damaging both productivity and brand image. Effective conflict management helps avoid these costly pitfalls.
- Boost stakeholder satisfaction: by transforming conflict into opportunities for collaboration, your teams will improve outcomes for clients, partners, and employees alike.
- Strengthen organisational resilience: developing a culture that addresses tension constructively makes the organisation better equipped to handle crises and uncertain market conditions.
- Improve staff well-being and retention: by minimising stress and absenteeism linked to unmanaged conflict, you will foster a healthier, more cohesive workplace environment.
- Enhance innovation and adaptability: harnessing differing perspectives and experiences drives creative problem-solving, leading to sustainable competitive advantage.
If your organisation is interested in investing in its development and people with St Andrews Executive Education, we’re pleased to offer a range of Corporate Membership benefits.
Course leaders
Sandra Romenska
Senior Lecturer
Ruth Unsworth
Head of Mediation and Wellbeing
Ruth Woodfield
Professor of Equalities and Organisation
Why University of St Andrews Business School?
Ranked as one of the UK's leading universities, the University of St Andrews is renowned for its teaching excellence. Our Business School brings together leading global academics and practitioners across management, finance, and economics.
In The Guardian's University Guide 2025 UK rankings we are proud to be:
- Number one in Business and Management
- Number two in Economics
Our Executive Education experience blends cutting-edge research, academic rigour, and global perspective. Inspiring transformative thinking and leadership, this new course will allow you to innovate and excel in your field.
Build connections
Our alumni make connections at St Andrews that prove invaluable as they navigate through similar professional challenges.
- Grow and learn from your new personal network
- Work with colleagues across industries and geographies
- Create lasting professional relationships
Generate impact
This course will equip you with knowledge and skills you can immediately apply to your role and organisation. You will learn to:
- Navigate resistance and friction more effectively
- Strengthen leadership during change
- Make confident decisions under pressure
- Develop advanced communication and negotiation skills
- Foster personal resilience and growth