Keeping Conversations Productive this Holiday Season
As we prepare to head home for the holidays, communication professor Michael Lee sheds light on how to navigate conflict and set the stage for understanding.
Whether he likes it or not, Michael Lee is the campus guru on navigating conflict. A professor of communication, he is the director of the Civility Initiative and hosts a podcast called When We Disagree, which focuses on the arguments, disagreements and disputes that we keep thinking about long after they’ve happened.
Over three seasons, the podcast has explored a wide range of conflicts – from campus debates over AI to national fights about free speech. Lee has invited professors, philosophers, journalists, politicians and students to his show to talk about the disputes they can’t forget, and the result is an archive of compelling discussions.
The other result is that Lee is now well-versed in navigating difficult conversations. Through his mentorship with the Free Expression Fellows, he is teaching the next generation of students how to find a common ground.
As we prepare to head home for the holidays, this episode from season one of When We Disagree can shed light on what not to do when you’re home for Thanksgiving.
Lee says before disagreement begins, set the stage for understanding. Below are five more tips for handling conflict.
Curiosity is important.
When someone presents an unfamiliar or unconvincing claim, we can ask, “How did you come to see it that way?”
Remember that evidence is emotional.
Healthy reactivity means slowing down rather than striking back.
Translate rather than dismiss stories or sources you find unconvincing.
Balance conviction and humility.
Stand firm in what you believe while still showing openness to new perspectives.
