Category Archives: Confrontation

Whose Burden is it? Cleaning up Bias in Academia

Posted on July 8, 2021 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

When the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill put New York Times reporter Nikole Hannah-Jones essentially through the wringer in what should have been a slam-dunk tenure decision, they broke a promise to her as an incoming holder of an endowed chair … Continue reading →

Posted in Confrontation, Gender Issues, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Courage vs. Subservience – Liz Cheney and Elise Stefanik

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

Representative Liz Cheney made a choice yesterday and she did it alone. There was no pandering to power, no one standing by her side at the podium. She took what I wrote about in my Harvard Business Review article “Courage … Continue reading →

Posted in Confrontation, Leadership, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Here We Go Again: “Nobody Likes Her”

Posted on September 9, 2020 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

As if we didn’t see enough of this cheap disparagement of a female opponent in 2016, Trump is at it again. Now, he’s accusing vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris of not being liked – by anyone. It’s not his only … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying, Confrontation, Gender Issues, Politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Workplace Deafness and Hostility — Foundations of Sexual Misconduct Complaints

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

The intensity of the MeToo movement came as a surprise to many people, especially men.  Yet, the study of sexual harassment in social science goes back a long way.  Also in the popular press.  In 1994, the cover story of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying, Comebacks, Confrontation, Gender Issues, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

STOP! with the “Look!” and “Listen!”

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

Try listening to the news or political interviews now days without hearing statements starting with “Look!” or “Listen!”  Not so long ago, such exclamations were rude and insulting.  In many contexts, they still are. Imagine a person being interviewed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Confrontation, Influence, Media, Persuasion, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How Well Do You Handle Your Choice Points in Conversation?

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

What were President Trump’s goals when he shared “highly classified” information with Russian officials?  It’s difficult to be sure.  We do know that what he said in the Oval Office resulted in a firestorm of criticism.  Was he “shooting from … Continue reading →

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The Politics of Making People Feel Good

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

Given the contentiousness of the U.S. presidential race, you might wonder if politics has been turned on its head. Where is civility? Where is statesmanship? Why all this ringside excitement as if we’re looking forward to a fight? In The … Continue reading →

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What To Say When a Conversation Turns Negative

Posted on May 11, 2016 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

That’s the subject of my Harvard Business Review blog to be published today (11 a.m. EST)  here. When studying for my doctorate, my research focused on how children deal with disruptions in conversation. We learn early, if we’re fortunate, how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Confrontation, Negotiation, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

One Lean In Tip Women/Graduates Should Reconsider

Posted on February 14, 2015 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

There is no such thing as a negotiation or conflict strategy good for all occasions.  To the extent that people can work collaboratively, there are several benefits.  Among them is the tendency for people to stick to a solution that … Continue reading →

Posted in "Leaning in" -- Asserting yourself, Confrontation, Influence, Negotiation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“Is There Another Way To Say That?”

Posted on February 5, 2015 by Kathleen Kelley Reardon

This is one of my favorite phrases, as my children will attest, for letting someone know that the way they’ve said something could be interpreted to their disadvantage.  Perhaps the person is in an irritable mood.  He or she snaps … Continue reading →

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