Harnessing constructive disagreement: A modern leadership imperative in health care

Hospital administration is complex, with leaders making high-stakes decisions on everything from budgets to staffing to policy. Conflicting priorities and diverse perspectives are unavoidable — and so is disagreement. In this environment, developing the skill of constructive disagreement is essential, allowing leaders to turn inevitable tension into opportunities for better decision making. This fall, health care leaders will have the opportunity to strengthen these skills in The Art and Science of Constructive Disagreement, a live, five-week virtual course beginning Sept. 30, 2025.

Why does constructive disagreement matter so much in health care administration? Leadership is responsible for patient safety, regulatory compliance, organizational finances and employee engagement — priorities that often pull resources in different directions. Disagreement naturally arises, but how it’s handled makes all the difference. Too often, tensions go unresolved, leading to passive resistance or stalled progress. At the other extreme, conversations can turn unproductive if disagreement devolves into heated conflict, discouraging candor and innovation. Navigating this tension — and moving away from either avoidance or conflict and toward productive engagement — requires intentional leadership, a thoughtful approach and new skills.

Constructive disagreement means treating differences as a resource for collaboration rather than as obstacles. When organizations treat disagreement as a resource to be leveraged, not a problem to be solved, administrators can surface new ideas, anticipate future challenges and build cultures of trust and resilience. The ability to disagree constructively is no longer a soft skill; it’s a leadership imperative for the realities of modern health care.

For those looking to deepen these capabilities, The Art and Science of Constructive Disagreement, taught by Harvard Professor, Julia Minson, Ph.D., offers structured practice, evidence-based tools, and a community of peers. Learn more and register.

Group discounts and custom in-person training options are also available.

For more information, email Jenn Bui at jennb@wsha.org. (Jenn Bui)