How do you manage and prevent destructive conflict in the workplace?

 

Jeremy Pollack Conflict Resolution

Jeremy Pollack

Our guest today is Jeremy Pollack, a leader of the field of workplace conflict resolution and peacebuilding and author of the book, The Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict. Listen as we discuss what creates conflict in the workplace and practical tips and real life scenarios to eliminate destructive conflict and build healthier relationships.

Jeremy holds a Master’s degree in Evolutionary Anthropology from California State University, Fullerton under anthropologist John Patton. His thesis research was in the evolution of religious cognition and intergroup conflict. Jeremy also holds a Master’s degree in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding (NCRP) from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Currently, he is finishing his doctoral work in Psychology, with an emphasis in motivation and social psychology, at Grand Canyon University.

Jeremy is also a research fellow at Stanford University, where he leads research projects in social psychology and conflict resolution as an interdisciplinary effort between the Stanford Social Concepts Lab (Dept. of Psychology) and the Stanford Center on International Conflict & Negotiation (Dept. of Law).

Previously, Jeremy was a research associate at the Center for Behavior, Evolution, and Culture at UCLA from 2011-2016, and has published several peer-reviewed scientific articles and written a number of research papers in the areas of conflict psychology, formidability assessment, intergroup conflict, religious cognition, and human cooperation. See Jeremy Pollack’s research here.

As a conflict resolution consultant, Jeremy has mediated conflicts between couples, co-executives, and organizations, aiming as often as possible to transform relationships and create Win-Win resolutions for all parties involved. He also works as a personal development coach, helping individuals discover internal conflicts impeding them from living happy, fulfilling lives.

He is a regular contributor on the topics of leadership and conflict management for publications like Forbes.comFast Company, Industry Week, and more. He is also formerly the Managing Editor of “The Peace Psychologist“, the official newsletter for the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence, Division 48 of the APA.

What We Discuss with Jeremy Pollack in This Episode

  • What creates conflict in the first place
  • Six psychological human needs and how to get them met
  • 10 organizational satisfiers
  • Reframing how we look at conflict – why it is a good thing
  • How to resolve the social conflict going on right now
  • The distinction between conflict and escalation
  • What causes escalation to happen
  • De-escalation on an individual level when social escalation is present
  • How to use “I” and “You” statements
  • Creating a conversation protocol for successful communication
  • Applying the spirit of curiosity vs condemnation
  • Honoring diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • How to avoid triggering people through judgments
  • What is gaslighting and how to deal with it
  • How to avoid false assumptions

Podcast Highlights

1:26 – What creates conflict in the first place

3:00 – How to create an environment where needs are being satisfied

5:30 – Why conflict is a good thing

6:55 – The distinction between conflict and escalation

10:15 – Finding common values and agreements

12:10 – How to deescalate on an individual level when social escalation is present

16:30 – How to use “I” and “You” statements

19:41 – Conversation protocol for successful communication

25:00 – Diversity and inclusion in the workplace

29:15 – How to deal with gaslighting

33:17 – Final thoughts of interpersonal conflict resolution

35:50 – Next action steps

Favorite Quote

“All conflict (tension or friction) is the catalyst for growth and positive change.” ~ Jeremy Pollack

Episode ResourcesConflict Resolution Playbook

Book: The Conflict Resolution Playbook: Practical Communication Skills for Preventing, Managing, and Resolving Conflict

Connect with Jeremy Pollack

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