What to Say Next to De-Stress Family Conflict and Connect With Your Kids (and Yourself) Whenever we do a media interview about our new book,  Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict, the interviewer or audience member inevitably says,”You know. These phrases would work wonders with my kids.” Yes. They sure will. Particularly the G.O.A.T.s. (Greatest of All Time, top 12). I’m a big believer in talking to your kids more like grown-ups. This got me and my friend, Kiersten Lortz talking about additional Powerful Phrases moms (and dads) can use when the going gets rough with their ..read more

Episode 255: In this episode, you’ll dive into the challenges of unlocking team potential when leading a team tangled in conflict. Imagine having a handbook of exactly what to say to calm the storm—that’s what the book, “Powerful Phrases for Dealing with Workplace Conflict,” offers you. You’ll hear why it’s crucial to tackle these conflicts head-on, transforming them into opportunities for growth and improved team dynamics. Picture yourself mastering the art of dealing with vents, misunderstandings, and even toxic situations using targeted phrases and strategies. Host, David Dye, also reminds ..read more

Avoiding workplace conflict makes for stagnant organizations where problems fester No one needs destructive, anger-fueled conflict at work. It’s corrosive and makes work miserable. But there’s another kind of workplace conflict that’s not only vital for a vibrant culture, but this kind of productive workplace conflict is also  the fuel for innovation, quality of life, and the better workplace today’s teams crave. Who Wants More Conflict at Work? In our World Workplace Conflict and Collaboration Survey we asked over 5000 people in 45+ countries about their experiences with workplace confli ..read more

Episode 254: In this episode, host David Dye delves into the pervasive challenge of addressing unclear expectations in the workplace. David unpacks how such ambiguity can be the root of workplace conflict and offers precise language to help you articulate concerns and seek mutual understanding. For instance, in situations like deciding if turning on the camera during virtual meetings is necessary, phrases like “It appears we have different perspectives on this” can pave the way for open dialogue. David also highlights the importance of establishing decision-making processes within teams, wheth ..read more

Strategies For Leading Through Change with Confidence “Hey Karin, I need some help leading through change. My team LOVES doing things the WAY THEY’VE ALWAYS DONE THEM. And I’m trying to get them to embrace some new technology. To do things just a little bit differently. But they are comfortable where they are. What should I do? #AskingforaFriend Embracing Curiosity as a Catalyst for Change Your Curiosity Powerful Phrases are a great start here. You can’t go wrong with your curiosity G.O.A.T.s. You can download a FREE G.O.A.T. Job Aid at our Conflict and Collaboration Resource Center. “I’m cu ..read more

The Communication Channel You Choose Matters: It’s What You Say AND How You Say It If you’re managing a team, you know how crucial your choice of communication can be. Let’s start with a timeless piece of advice from Marshall McLuhan, the renowned communication researcher. He famously said, “The medium is the message.” What does this mean for you as a manager? It means that how you communicate with your team can be just as important, if not more so, than what you are communicating. It’s vital to chose the right communication channel for your message. Think about this: if you decide to inform ..read more

How Small Businesses Can Do Their Part In Sustainability Today I talk with Cooper Wechkin Founder and CEO of RyeStrategy about the business case for a sustainable organization (even for small organizations). We discussed practical and important ways small businesses can do their part toward a more sustainable future. “Hi Karin, I know it’s Earth Month, and I really should be thinking about sustainability but it can all feel overwhelming. Where can I start? How do I begin making an impact? #askingforafriend Sustainable Organization Statistics: Numbers Show a Shift The stats are ..read more

Three critical questions will save you time and improve decision making with fewer headaches In a world with a constantly growing AI presence, where data is cheap, and you can easily outsource routine tasks to large language models, your decision making ability plays a more vital role than ever. Your ability to help your organization and teams make effective decisions is a competitive advantage and rare leadership skill. Three questions will help energize and clarify your decision making process. When Decision Making Meetings Go Wrong You’ve been there before. One of those awful meetings that ..read more

Leadership’s Focus on Clarity Emerges as Key Antidote to Uncertainty The more challenges you face, the more clear you need to be about which problem is the most important to solve. Today’s Asking for a Friend is with Dr Avnesh (Avi) Ratnanesan talking about the power of clarity and focus when dealing with today’s “conflict cocktails.” His answer, figure out your ONE BIG PROBLEM TO SOLVE. It’s tricky, right? Because there are so many problems. But when you can define your biggest problem in one sentence, align energy and resources around it, and measure the impact, you create real CLARITY OF FO ..read more

Episode 252: In this episode, David introduces you to 12 effective phrases to help you improve your communication skills and effectively navigate workplace conflict. He organizes these phrases into four critical areas: connection, clarity, curiosity, and commitment. You’ll learn to express care and investment through phrases like, “I care about you, this team, this project.” He encourages you to seek understanding with questions such as, “What would a successful outcome do for you?” and “I’m curious how this looks from your perspective.” To keep the dialogue productive, he suggests planning fo ..read more