

The wedge of disagreement is the practice of inserting intentional tension into a group or system to spark transformation.
Part I
Disagreement Is Data
When disagreement is buried, so is growth. Leadership is not a static role. Think of it as an action-reaction loop. Every move a leader makes in the presence of dissent sends a signal, and the team responds. People speak or withdraw, challenge or comply, think critically or defer. The team's reaction is a predictable result of how leaders respond when tension appears.
Part II
Strategic Leadership in the Face of Dissent
We begin where all transformation begins - with listening. We explore how the quality of a leader's listening determines the quality of dissent a system can surface and what becomes possible when leaders learn to hear what's spoken, and what's avoided. In this design, different thoughts, backgrounds and experiences become the advantage that build the culture of productive dissent when we learn to stay in the tension.
Part III
Activation and ROI
The wedge of disagreement becomes the way we work. This is courageous leadership. When leaders hold tension well, people experience themselves differently within the organization. They feel seen, trusted, significant, and responsible for the future they are helping shape.
Tension becomes dialog, dialog becomes breakthrough, and breakthrough becomes transformation.
When will you activate the wedge?

Ana Sasmiresan is a Romanian American executive leader, speaker, and business coach, Founder and Chief Leadership Officer with Transformation Through Conversations and former Vice President with Randstad.
She is the author of The Wedge of Disagreement, a powerful framework that helps leaders transform tension into value, innovation, and alignment. Through her work, Ana challenges the traditional view of dissent as conflict and reframes it as valuable data — insight that sharpens decisions and strengthens teams. Her methodology equips leaders to intentionally design for dissent rather than avoid it, creating cultures where truth and creativity can be spoken and leveraged.
Disagreement is the input. Leadership response is the variable. Opposition alone guarantees nothing. The value comes from what a leader builds around it - an invitation to speak, a willingness to listen, and a process capable of converting competing perspectives into stronger decisions.
Whether through her upcoming book, coaching certification, or live experiences, Ana invites teams to apply the wedge of disagreement — inserting intentional tension to spark active transformation. Because challenging ideas is a form of contribution, and when disagreement is held well, it doesn't divide — it drives better outcomes.
STAY IN THE TENSION™ International Classes 041 and 045 for Leadership Development, Executive Coaching and Personal Growth Services.
© 2026 Ana Sasmiresan LLC - All Rights Reserved.