Summer 2025 Book Club: The Good Fight
Learn more and register for the Association for Academic Leaders’ Summer Book Club.
Book Review by Kim Harris, Senior Program Manager, Association for Academic Leaders
“We can’t go over it, we can’t go under it! We’ve got to go through it!”
This memorable refrain from the old folk song “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” perfectly sets the tone for Liane Davey’s The Good Fight. Both the song and Davey deliver a crucial lesson: obstacles and fears aren’t meant to be avoided — they’re meant to be confronted head-on. In the workplace, it’s all too tempting to sidestep conflict, hoping it will quietly resolve itself. Yet, as Davey compellingly argues, conflict avoidance only compounds the problem, creating what she cleverly calls "conflict debt."
Conflict as Debt: A Powerful Metaphor
One of Davey’s most resonant contributions is her comparison of unresolved conflict to financial debt. Debt is an almost universally understood concept; we can all relate to the notion of debt. Like financial debt, conflict debt accumulates interest over time. When leaders fail to address issues, the cost isn’t just a future confrontation; it’s a burden that grows and begins to affect the people and the organization as a whole. Stakeholders, colleagues, student learning, and ultimately, the health of the school culture, suffer as the "interest" mounts.
The Danger of "Nice" Cultures
In my experience, many independent schools foster cultures of “nice.” While kindness is certainly a virtue we want to instill in students, an overemphasis on niceness among adults can be dangerous. When "being nice" trumps addressing real performance or behavioral issues, the culture begins to erode. Academic Leaders who avoid conflict often redistribute work (increased course load or extra duties) to high-performing colleagues to compensate for poorer-performing team members. While this may feel like a short-term solution, it ultimately leads to resentment, burnout, and a decline in overall morale. In these scenarios, the entire team ends up paying the price for a leader’s reluctance to engage in necessary, albeit uncomfortable, conversations.
Embracing Healthy Conflict
I’ve had the opportunity to work under different types of leaders, and I've seen firsthand how essential healthy conflict is to a thriving school culture. Some Academic Leaders discourage dissent and minimize disagreements, creating a stagnant, compliant environment. Others, however, cultivate spaces where questioning, counterpoints, and debates are not only allowed but welcomed.
Davey emphasizes that "fiery" conflict — when managed constructively — fuels innovation and strengthens outcomes. Diverse perspectives invite fresh ideas and challenge assumptions, ensuring decisions are more thoroughly vetted and effective. Fresh eyes, regardless of age or years of experience, can expose weaknesses and refine strategies. The courage to engage in these conversations is what ultimately drives growth and strengthens teams.
A Fresh Take on Leadership
The Good Fight is a highly recommended read for Academic Leaders seeking to transform their approach to conflict. Davey reframes conflict not as a threat but as a powerful leadership tool for building stronger teams and healthier organizational cultures. By encouraging us to "fight the good fight," she provides a roadmap for leaders to address challenges directly, nurture openness, and ultimately, enhance productivity and creativity.
If you want your team to flourish rather than merely function, it’s time to embrace conflict as the necessary catalyst for growth. Pick up The Good Fight and prepare to go through it — together.
