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Conflict Skills
Conflict Skills
Author: Simon Goode
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© 2025 Simon Goode
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Simon Goode is a professional mediator and the host of the Conflict Skills Podcast, where he offers free resources and tools to navigate conflicts both in and out of the workplace. With a focus on practical strategies, Simon’s podcast addresses real-world scenarios, providing listeners with the tools to handle disputes effectively. In his recent episodes, he delves into the intricacies of workplace mediation, using case studies like conflicts between managers and staff members to illustrate his points. Simon's expertise and approachable style make his podcast an invaluable resource for anyone looking to improve their conflict resolution skills.
88 Episodes
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Have you ever had a colleague that kept using the IM system just to write, "hi"? What do they want? Why can't they just be more clear? Why are they so annoying and should they be thrown into the sun? In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, Simon Goode tackles a common yet surprisingly irritating workplace communication issue: colleagues who send instant messages that simply say "hi"—and nothing else. Drawing from a Reddit case study and its lively comment section, Simon Goode ex...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, Simon Goode sits down with Neo, a law student curious about the realities and pathways into dispute resolution and mediation. Their conversation covers Simon Goode's unconventional journey into the field, practical insights into mediation processes, and the challenges of handling conflict in both professional and personal contexts. Together, they explore the transferability of conflict skills, ethical dilemmas, and creative ways mediation can be...
In this episode, Simon Goode shares five practical and accessible strategies for improving conflict management skills, including regulating your breathing, using statements instead of questions, finding ways to relax, writing to process conflict, and embracing a mindset of curiosity and openness. He explains each tip with relatable examples from both personal life and professional mediation, highlighting their immediate benefits and long-term impact on relationships. The episode encourages li...
In this episode, Simon Goode interviews his friend and former colleague, Meng, about their experiences teaching English in South Korea. The discussion touches on navigating cultural differences, and adapting to Korean workplace hierarchy. They discuss the challenges of managing diverse teams, handling conflict between foreign teachers and local management, and the lasting impact of these experiences on their personal and professional lives. The conversation is filled with reflections on leade...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host Simon Goode explores the essential skillset for anyone who finds themselves in the role of an "accidental mediator," such as managers or HR professionals dealing with workplace conflict. He breaks down six key areas: self-regulation, de-escalation, empathetic listening, coaching (using the GROW model), assertiveness and boundaries, and creating the conditions for success in conflict resolution. Throughout the episode, Simon shares practical...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host Simon Goode explores the challenges millennials face when managing Gen Z staff, using a real-life case study to illustrate common issues like communication barriers, differing work norms, and heightened sensitivity to feedback. Simon shares practical conflict resolution strategies, emphasizing the importance of de-escalation, flexible expectations, and understanding generational "cultural differences." He encourages managers to foster colla...
In this episode, host Simon Goode discusses a real-life workplace scenario where someone was accused of racism after referring to a colleague by their skin color during a conversation. He breaks down the layers of workplace conflict, highlighting the roles of value and relationship conflicts, and offers practical advice for self-care and preparation when facing similar accusations. Simon also shares strategies for navigating difficult conversations and maintaining composure in stressful situa...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host Simon Goode explores the ways people can unintentionally invite unnecessary conflict into their lives, drawing on both personal experiences and the story of a neighbor’s altercation. Simon outlines three main strategies to avoid such conflicts: learning to pause and prioritize, recognizing it's not your job to correct others, and not taking others’ actions too personally. He also shares practical mindfulness techniques and encourages reflec...
In this episode, host Simon Goode introduces the concept of "micro-de-escalation," focusing on subtle gestures and communication techniques to reduce perceived threat and lower the energy in conflict situations. He discusses practical approaches such as using positive body language, appropriate tone of voice, and giving others a sense of autonomy and fairness. The episode offers actionable tips for everyday interactions, helping listeners create more positive and constructive exchanges, even ...
Struggling with conflict between your partner and your best friend? In this episode, I break down a real-life scenario where a heated argument over parenting styles led to lasting tension. I share the five types of apologies, why "getting over it" isn't helpful, and how to focus on practical steps for repairing relationships. Plus, I reveal strategies to navigate value clashes and set healthy boundaries when you’re stuck in the middle. Tune in for practical, real-world conflict skills you can...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host and professional mediator Simon Goode explores the five types of conflict that can arise between housemates: relationship, data, interest, values, and structural conflicts. He explains each type with practical examples from shared living situations and offers suggestions for addressing them effectively. The episode aims to provide listeners with a helpful framework for understanding and resolving housemate tensions, drawing on both personal...
In this episode, Simon Goode explores how to handle situations where a team member isn’t contributing effectively, specifically when they rely too much on AI tools and submit superficial work. He analyzes the scenario using five types of conflict—relationship, data, interest, values, and structure—to help listeners clarify the underlying issues and choose the best approach. The episode offers practical strategies for assessing and addressing group conflict, encouraging listeners to use this f...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, Simon Goode explores the relationship between grief and conflict, offering practical tools for supporting those experiencing loss and navigating challenging conversations. He discusses common mistakes people make when addressing grief, ways to de-escalate emotional situations, and strategies for maintaining boundaries with empathy and clarity. Simon also emphasizes the importance of self-care for anyone supporting others through grief, sharing h...
In this episode, Simon Goode breaks down active listening into three levels: building initial connection through body language and basic responses, using coregulation and summarizing to help others feel truly heard, and practicing genuine curiosity to foster reciprocal change in conversations. He shares practical tips, like using open and closed questions, mirroring, and mindful summaries, to improve everyday listening skills. Simon also emphasizes the power of approaching conversations with ...
In this episode, Simon Goode explores how we can "digest" conflict experiences by using practical self-regulation techniques in the moment, immediately after, and over the long term. He shares tools like mindful breathing, multisensory walks, journaling, and gratitude exercises to help restore balance and process stressful encounters. Simon emphasizes that everyone's needs are different, encouraging listeners to experiment with various strategies to find what works best for them. ------------...
Conflict is an inevitable part of life—whether we’re navigating tricky workplace dynamics, strained family relationships, or friction among friends. While resolving the immediate dispute is hard enough, what happens next can be even trickier: how do you pick up the pieces and rebuild trust after things have gone wrong? That’s exactly the challenge Simon Goode, professional mediator and host of the Conflict Skills Podcast, unpacks in Episode 74: “Rebuilding Trust After Conflict”. If you’ve eve...
In episode 73 of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host Simon Goode discusses the challenges and complexities of being labeled a conflict resolution expert, sharing personal experiences of feeling overwhelmed by conflicts despite training when the situation was calling on resources that weren't available. Simon explores the unrealistic expectations we often place on ourselves and delves into how our brain's response to stress can complicate conflict management. Throughout the episode, Simon ...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, host Simon Goode shares five tips for managing conflict when you're tired. He discusses how tiredness affects our thoughts, emotions, and behavior, leading to a higher likelihood of conflict, and provides strategies like slowing down, strategically adjusting timing, and self-regulating frequently. Simon also touches on the importance of managing expectations for ourselves and with others when our energy levels are low. -------------------- 00:...
In this episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast, I provide 5 useful tools for individuals who are conflict avoidant, providing strategies to help them manage conflicts more effectively in various relationships. He emphasizes understanding the reasoning behind conflict avoidance, offers coaching tools for team leaders and managers, and highlights techniques like goal clarification and utilizing the six sources of influence. The episode is aimed at both conflict avoidant individuals and those su...
In today's episode of the Conflict Skills Podcast with host Simon Goode, we dive into the crucial topic of managing emotions during performance management meetings. Simon, a seasoned professional mediator, addresses the challenges often faced in these meetings, especially when conflict escalates. He explores various de-escalation strategies tailored for performance management conversations by focusing on five key aspects: certainty, relatedness, autonomy, status, and fairness. Simon also disc...




