Unlocking negotiation and leadership excellence
In an era of complex stakeholder relationships, rapid change and growing pressure on leaders, the ability to negotiate effectively and manage conflict is no longer optional; it is a core leadership capability, writes Enda Young, founder and CEO of the Centre for Negotiation and Leadership.
For organisations in Northern Ireland, the cost of destructive workplace conflict is substantial. Research consistently shows disputes affect over one-third of employees and cost employers hundreds of millions of pounds each year through lost productivity, absenteeism, turnover, and reputational damage. Moreover, studies show that leaders who are skilled negotiators not only achieve better outcomes in complex discussions but also improve employee morale, reduce conflict and strengthen the relationships that matter most to organisational performance.
It was against this backdrop that we established the Centre for Negotiation and Leadership (CNL) to help organisations build the negotiation capability, leadership confidence and conflict competence needed to perform at their best.
My professional background spans more than 25 years in negotiation, mediation and leadership development. I have led Mediation Northern Ireland, lecture on negotiation programmes at Oxford, Trinity and Queen’s University Business Schools, and work with organisations across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. These experiences shape CNL’s practical, evidence-based approach, combining academic rigour with real-world application.
What sets CNL apart is that we do more than train people to negotiate. We support organisations through live, high-stakes negotiations, working alongside leaders before, during and after critical discussions. This often involves a bespoke blend of negotiation training, facilitation and executive coaching, tailored to the specific context from complex commercial negotiations and organisational change processes to sensitive internal disputes and stakeholder engagement.
Alongside this work, we design and deliver bespoke leadership development programmes, executive coaching, and mediation and conflict capability frameworks aligned to each organisation’s culture, challenges and strategic objectives. There are no off-the-shelf solutions. Our focus is on solving real problems strengthening leadership pipelines, reducing costly conflict and improving decision-making under pressure.
Our work is underpinned by a highly experienced international and national associate pool, with expertise drawn from institutions including Harvard, Oxford, NATO and the United Nations. Feedback across sectors from finance and manufacturing to public service and global NGOs consistently highlights the credibility, practical relevance and lasting impact of our work.
Workplace conflict and negotiation challenges do not have to undermine organisational performance. Handled well, negotiation and conflict can strengthen decision-making, working relationships and organisational resilience.
To explore how CNL can support your organisation, visit:
