In this episode, I sit down with Kim Best, founder and president of Best Conflict Solutions, to talk about something many leaders would rather avoid: conflict.

Kim shares her path from working as a critical care and emergency room nurse to becoming a mediator and conflict management expert. We discuss why conflict can feel so threatening, why our past experiences shape the stories we tell ourselves about other people, and how the “ladder of inference” can cause us to reach conclusions before we fully understand what is happening.

We also talk about broken trust, difficult workplace relationships, and the importance of separating the person from the problem. Kim explains why moving forward does not mean ignoring what happened in the past, but it means understanding it, learning from it, and getting clear about what needs to change.

Our conversation also explores the role of HR and why organizations need to build conflict competence instead of expecting HR to solve every disagreement.

A key takeaway from our conversation is simple: conflict is normal. The goal is not to eliminate it. The goal is to develop the skills to handle it well.

For leaders, especially those working in healthcare, technical expertise can only take you so far. The ability to navigate conflict, preserve relationships, and have productive conversations is a leadership skill that matters just as much.

👉  Download The Leader’s Ultimate Guide to Difficult Conversations, a practical framework for entering difficult conversations with clarity, discipline, and influence.

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