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In this episode of The JoyPowered® Workspace Podcast, hosts JoDee Curtis and Susan White tackle a topic most of us would rather tiptoe around: workplace conflict. They’re joined by guest Bill Taylor, founder of Sports Conflict Lab and longtime college coach turned conflict management expert. Together, they explore why conflict is not only unavoidable, but also essential—and how teams can transform it from something draining into something deeply constructive.

Despite many leaders’ instinct to avoid conflict, research shows it’s a universal part of working with humans. In fact, 85% of employees experience conflict at work, and unresolved tension can cost organizations billions each year. But when conflict is managed thoughtfully, communication strengthens, expectations become clearer, trust deepens, and teams come out better on the other side.

Bill shares powerful insights and five core tools that help leaders approach conflict with courage, clarity, and emotional intelligence.

Key Takeaways

• Conflict is natural—even healthy. Avoiding it robs teams of opportunities to grow, clarify expectations, and build stronger relationships.
• Emotions matter more than you think. Effective conflict starts with lowering emotions, because no good decisions happen in a heightened emotional state.
• Communication goes beyond words. Active listening, asking questions, and paying attention to tone and nonverbal cues are essential tools for navigating conflict productively.
• Unspoken expectations sit at the root of most conflict. Many disagreements arise because expectations were never shared out loud, leaving room for assumptions and misunderstandings.
• Below-the-line issues often drive above-the-line complaints. What people say the issue is may not reflect the deeper needs, fears, or interests actually fueling the tension.
• Win-win beats win-lose every time. Sustainable resolutions come from creativity and collaboration, not competition.
• Follow-through is non-negotiable. A conflict isn’t resolved until everyone does what they agreed to do.

Quote of the Episode

“A lot of people think of conflict being entirely negative, and it actually is an essential part of growing relationships. You have to have conflict and you have to manage it positively.” – Bill Taylor

Mentioned in this episode

• Purple Ink
• Susan Tinder White Consulting
• Workplace Conflict Statistics – Gitnux, February 2026
• Episode 83, Handling Workplace Conflict
• Episode 203, How to Mediate Workplace Conflict
• Sports Conflict Lab
• Managing Sports Conflict: 5 Tools to Master Conflict by Bill Taylor
• Job search lies. Who is most likely to fib during the process? – Indianapolis Star, January 2026
• SHRM credit evaluation – the SHRM credit code for this episode will expire on April 6, 2027
• JoyPowered® Patreon page
• JoyPowered® on LinkedIn
• JoyPowered® on Instagram
• Email JoyPowered®