HOUSTON – Conflict is a part of everyday life, whether at work, home, or online. How we deal with disagreements can shape our relationships and communities.
Texas Southern University (TSU) is welcoming bestselling author Bob Bordone for a lecture and book signing on April 26, where he will share insights on handling conflict better.
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Event Schedule:
Saturday, April 26, 2025
- 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. : Lecture (Administrators, Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students, Alumni, and Members of the Community) – College of Education Auditorium
- 12:15 p.m. : Book Signing – College of Education Building, Room 318
Bordone, who co-wrote Conflict Resilience: Negotiating Disagreement Without Giving Up or Giving In with NYU neuroscientist Dr. Joel Salinas, will talk about how we can improve our approaches to conflict.
As Bordone shares his insights, think about your own experiences with conflict.
KPRC 2’s Zorrie Jones recently spoke with Bordone about conflict resilience. As a senior fellow at Harvard Law School and founder of the Cambridge Negotiation Institute, he has spent over 20 years helping people navigate disagreements at work, home, and in their communities.
“We want to be able to listen to each other and communicate as a way of learning,” Bordone said, highlighting the importance of these skills in a diverse city like Houston.
The event will focus on Bordone’s idea of “conflict resilience,” which combines brain science, emotional intelligence, and communication skills.
In today’s digital age, where social media often makes misunderstandings worse, Bordone’s insights on conflict resilience are more important than ever. Young people frequently face conflicts online, making good communication skills essential for healthy relationships.
“The brain is neuroplastic, meaning we can retrain it to respond to conflict differently,” Bordone explained. “Wherever we are in our journey with conflict, we can get better at handling it every day.”
During the conversation with KPRC 2’s Zorrie Jones, Bordone pointed out the challenges young people face with conflict today, especially online.
He offered this advice: “When you feel the urge to block someone or respond with something snarky, try asking a more open question. For example, ‘That surprises me. Can you explain a bit more?’”
He also shared his thoughts on using AI tools like ChatGPT for conflict advice, calling them helpful but not a quick fix.
“I think ChatGPT can be useful for easy answers, but conflict resilience isn’t easy,” he said. “To really get good at this, you need to do some personal work.”
For those who tend to avoid confrontation, Bordone emphasizes the importance of being honest and authentic. “We honor others when we bring our full selves into the conversation,” he said.
His final takeaway?
“Whenever you hear something you disagree with, get curious, ask a question, and stop assuming the other person doesn’t make any sense.”
The TSU event is free and open to the public. Along with a book signing, attendees will gain practical tools for having better conversations.
Get a chance to learn from Bordone and improve your conflict resolution skills—join him at TSU and take the first step toward more constructive conversations!
