How do you transform conflict into a leadership growth opportunity?
In this episode, Mason Duchatschek sits down with Marlene Chism, an expert in leadership and conflict management, to discuss how leaders can embrace discomfort, practice radical listening, and develop the conflict capacity needed to create a more engaged and trusting workforce.
Marlene shares insights on mismanagement, workplace drama, and avoidance, revealing how these challenges impact company culture. Through education, self-regulation, and open communication, leaders can build stronger teams and turn difficult conversations into powerful learning experiences.
Key Takeaways
-Conflict Can Be a Growth Opportunity – When handled correctly, conflict strengthens leadership and team dynamics.
-Disrespect, Not Disagreement, Ruins Relationships – Leaders must focus on fostering respectful communication.
- Curiosity Is a Leadership Superpower – Radical listening and curiosity help uncover solutions in difficult situations.
- Avoidance and Mismanagement Create Workplace Drama – Leaders who fail to address issues allow toxic behaviors to fester.
- Building Conflict Capacity Requires Practice – Self-regulation and preparation are key to handling workplace conflicts effectively.
- Challenging Personal Narratives Improves Leadership – Reframing perspectives can lead to better decision-making.
- Clarity in Communication Can Shift Any Situation – Clear intentions help resolve misunderstandings and strengthen trust.
Learn More with Workforce Alchemy
If you're looking for strategies, tools, and secrets to improve leadership effectiveness, conflict resolution, and workplace culture, take the Workforce Alchemy Challenge for free.
Chapters 00:00 Embracing Conflict as a Growth Opportunity 02:56 The Inner Game of Conflict Management 05:38 Mismanagement and Workplace Drama 08:47 Avoidance, Appeasement, and Aggression in Leadership 11:35 Developing Conflict Capacity 14:17 Challenging Personal Narratives 17:32 Effective Communication Strategies 20:18 Overcoming Resistance in Leadership 24:41 The Fulcrum Point of Change 27:48 Willingness to Grow and Learn 29:40 Embracing Aversion in Personal Growth 31:40 Trust and Communication in Leadership 35:53 Character vs. Competence in Leadership 38:30 The Power of Employee Engagement 40:58 Clarity as a Tool for Conflict Resolution
