Conflict doesn’t destroy teams—unresolved conflict does.

In this episode of Leadership for Life and Business, I break down a simple, repeatable way to handle tension with clarity and respect so trust increases instead of erodes. I start with why leaders avoid conflict (fear of failure, hurting feelings, or making it personal) and how that avoidance quietly kills credibility. Then I share an early lesson from my military days that taught me to address issues directly, calmly, and quickly.

You’ll learn my CLEAR Framework for Resolving Issues:

C – Context: State what happened—factually, without blame.

L – Level-set: Restate expectations and standards.

E – Engage: Hear their perspective and gather context.

A – Agree: Align on specific next steps, owners, and timelines.

R – Review: Follow up to reinforce change and rebuild trust.

We walk through real examples (like teammates clashing in meetings), common pitfalls (reacting, lecturing, or avoiding), and the mindset shift from reacting to resolving. You’ll leave with conversation prompts, check-in rhythms, and a practical path to turn friction into forward momentum.

Have questions for the podcast or maybe even an idea for the show? Want to work together to grow your leadership or business? Shoot me an email and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!

Email: ⁠l4labpodcast@gmail.com⁠

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