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Welcome to the Tuesday Trailblazer, my weekly newsletter delivering actionable advice from my personal experiences in 15+ of people and business leadership.

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Today’s Email:

This edition is all about turning conflict into collaboration. Let’s smooth out the bumps in the road and transform those tough talks into teamwork.

What we’ll cover off:

• The five essential steps to effectively resolve conflicts.

• Techniques to take the 'difficult' out of difficult conversations.

• My #1 strategy to prevent conflict arising to “difficult” in the first place.

• A new “challenge” addition to the “Tuesday Trailblazer”!!

Quote Of The Week;

Tough talks at work are stressing out leaders, says new research. Shockingly, leaders stress more about asking for more money than breaking up with someone! The CMI study also shows how much these hard chats mess with people's heads.

Out of 2,000 workers asked, most felt stressed or anxious if they knew a tough conversation was coming. Plus, about 11% even had nightmares or slept badly when they knew they had to face a difficult talk at work.

What Are The Five Main Causes Of Fear?

1. Not knowing how the other person will respond – 43%

2. Not being able to get a point across clearly – 31%

3. Being in a confrontational situation – 29%

4. Getting upset or emotional – 29%

5. The other person getting upset or emotional – 21%

This highlights, the impact as leaders that not having the ability to handle difficult conversations has. It extends well beyond the office.

Taking a toll on our ability to sleep, lead and be present at home.

Alright, let’s continue…

Many leaders either avoid conflict like it's quicksand or charge into it like a bull in a china shop. It's about finding that sweet spot—addressing the issue without causing more breakage.

However, the biggest failure come a lack of experience when it comes to having 1:1 conversations - whether positive or challenging.

This piles on the self doubt, igniting the fear of confrontation and confidence in their ability to handle that.

In my experience, most leaders only have 1:1 conversations with their team when;

- It’s performance review time
- Something has gone wrong
- Not at all

Again driving that lack confidence in themselves and the fear of confrontation.

So, what’s the solution?

My #1 strategy - connect with and elevate your culture.
Get my free 1:1 system and agenda here.

Secondly, once you’ve created the space, it’s all about how you navigate it…

It’s time to check out 5 steps to making difficult conversations… EASY!

1.Listen With Empathy
- Listen Actively - Pay attention & maintain eye contact. Do not cut them off.
- Repeat In Your Words - Say back what they said to show you understand.
- Show You Care - Let them know you get how their feeling without judging

2.Think "We" Not "Me"
- Work Together - Talk like you’re teaming up to solve the problem.
- Say “We” - Share the load & keep things calm.
- Stick to Facts - Talk about what really happened, not just opinions.

3.The Power of Pause
- Respect Silence - Allow space for them to think & articulate their thoughts.
- Pause Before Responding - Gather your thoughts to respond thoughtfully.
- Let Them Add More - Use quiet moments to prompt further sharing.

4.Keep The Talk Helpful
- Start with Positive Intent - Let them know you want to make things better. 
- Focus on the Future - Concentrate on solutions & ways to move forward.
- Speak  For Yourself - Use “I” to express your thoughts and keep things smooth. 

5.Manage Feelings Well 
- Acknowledge & Validate Emotions - Understand & accept their feelings as real.
- Maintain Composure - Keep calm to help de-escalate any emotional intensity.
- Take Breaks If Needed - If emotions peak, suggest a pause to restore calm.

Introducing a new addition to The Tuesday Trailblazer - A weekly “Ignite your impact” challenge".
Each week I’ll provide you with short daily tasks to help develop your impact in the weekly topic.

So, who’s ready to turn conflict into powerful collaboration and make those difficult conversations much easier?

Here’s this weeks challenge, Trailblazers.

Day 1: Set the Stage for Openness

• Morning: Start your day with intention. Remind yourself that every challenge is an opportunity to lead with impact.

• Action: Identify a conflict or potential conflict on the horizon.

• Evening Reflection: Note down your feelings about this conflict. Why does it matter, and how can it be a chance for growth?

Day 2: Dive Deep with Active Listening

• Morning: Approach the day with the mindset of seeking to understand before being understood.

• Action: Have a one-on-one with a team member involved in the conflict. Use the "Echo Technique" to ensure you're truly listening.
  (The Echo Technique is like playing back a message to show you heard it right. It helps make sure everyone understands each other in a conversation.)

• Evening Reflection: Reflect on what you learned about the conflict that you didn’t know before.

Day 3: The Collaborative Turnaround

• Morning: Consider potential win-win outcomes for the conflict.

• Action: Bring the parties together to brainstorm solutions. Focus on collaborative dialogue.

• Evening Reflection: Did you manage to steer the conversation toward resolution? What collaborative ideas came forward?

Day 4: Solidify the Solution

• Morning: With clarity, revisit the agreed-upon resolution. Prepare to reinforce it with positivity.

• Action: Meet again to finalise the resolution. Ensure everyone's voice is heard and that the agreement feels balanced.

• Evening Reflection: Observe the team’s mood. Is there a sense of closure and readiness to move forward?

This 4-Day Challenge is designed to ignite your impact, transforming how you approach and resolve conflicts. It's about leading by example, pioneering new paths in communication, and creating a team culture where every challenge is met with courage and collaboration.

Mastering conflict resolution doesn't just ease tension—it opens up a new avenue for leadership growth. By approaching disagreements with a calm, understanding, and collaborative mindset, you'll foster a culture where conflicts become opportunities for innovation and team strengthening.

Remember, Trailblazers, true leadership is about action. Take this challenge and lead your team to new horizons of understanding and unity. Let's blaze through conflict with confidence and grace!

It’s more rewarding to resolve conflict, than dissolve relationships.

Lead with impact, not busy.

Until next Tuesday,
Howard

I have built and led teams across 3 successful businesses and have over 15 years of people and business leadership experience.

Over the past 4 years, I have grown my business working with “busy” leaders across multiple industries (retail, hospitality, construction, mining, education) helping them igniting their impact and leadership both at work and at home.

Without abandoning their ambition.

Let me share my insights and help you:

• Reclaim your time

• Prioritise your wellbeing

• Achieve work/life harmony

• Improve customer centricity

• Connect & elevate team culture

• Develop beyond busy leadership skills

• Build your business bench and succession planning

Book A 45 minute “Beyond Busy Mentor” Meeting Here

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