What does it mean to “disagree better”?
It means that we can approach disagreement in ways that buffer our most important personal and professional relationships from the negative effects of conflict. It means that we can disagree in ways that spark collaboration and better decisions instead of destructive conflict and tension.
The way we disagree has an impact on the quality of our work, the resilience of our relationships, and the joy in our lives.
The way we disagree affects whether or not differences turn into ongoing conflict and tension, and influences whether or not our important personal and professional relationships are buffered from the negative effects of conflict.
The way we disagree determines whether conflict hijacks our time and drains our energy, or whether it leads us to greater collaboration, better decisions, and stronger relationships.
For over two decades Dr. Tammy Lenski has brought the tools and skills of the professional mediator, executive coach, and conflict resolution speaker and teacher to help individuals, pairs, and teams navigate disagreement better, address friction, and build alignment.
Tammy’s current work centers on helping people disagree better by creating the conditions for robust collaboration and sound decisions while also fostering resilient personal and professional relationships.
“Innovative and trailblazing”
Mary Parker Follett Award
Awarded by the Association for Conflict Resolution for innovative and pioneering work in the conflict resolution field
Pioneer
Award
Awarded by the New England Association for Conflict Resolution for significant contributions to the conflict resolution field
Master Teacher
Award
Awarded by the Association of Vermont Independent Colleges for excellence in teaching adult undergraduate and graduate students
Academy of Advanced Practitioners
Inaugural member of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s most advanced membership level
About Tammy
Dr. Tammy Lenski founded her conflict resolution firm in 1997 after a decade in higher education leadership, serving as a dean, vice president, and assistant professor. In addition to working with private clients, she’s served on the faculty of four U.S. graduate programs, including as co-founder of the world’s first master’s degree in mediation.
She earned her Bachelor’s degree in world literature from Middlebury College, Master’s and Doctorate in higher education leadership from The University of Vermont, and a post-doc certificate in mediation and conflict resolution from Woodbury College.
Tammy has served on numerous boards, committees, and professional panels, including the New England Association for Conflict Resolution, New Hampshire Supreme Court ADR Committee, New Hampshire Conflict Resolution Association, Vermont Women in Higher Education, New Hampshire Probate Court Mediation Panel, SquareTrade Mediator Panel (mediation for eBay), the New England Resource Center for Higher Education Think Tank, and the Monadnock Humane Society. She’s served as keynote speaker and presenter for countless regional, national, and international conflict resolution conferences, private organizations, and higher education groups.
Her two books, The Conflict Pivot and Making Mediation Your Day Job, have sold more than 20,000 copies worldwide. Her conflict resolution blog has readers on six continents and at organizations as diverse as Daimler AG, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Intel, Kennedy Center, Kaiser Permanente, Harvard University, MIT, NOAA, the U.S. Small Business Association, and the FBI.
Tammy lives in New Hampshire with her husband of 31 years and an exuberant mutt. When she’s not working, she’s usually hiking, competing in dog agility, gardening, or doing genealogical research.
“Clever, insightful,
and innovative”
Lee Whittier, American Kennel Club
“Top-notch learning and personal growth experience”
Jerry Greenfield, Ben & Jerry’s
“Won over
a tough audience”
Lisa Miles, Eversource Energy