032 I Communication Conflicts at Work & Why Good Intentions Make Them Worse

https://communicateconnectthrive.com/

Difficult conversations about discrimination, inequity, and exclusion often escalate not because of bad intentions, but because they activate deep internal protection systems.

In this episode, we help listeners understand:

• Why defensiveness, silence, or over-explaining show up
• How hidden commitments protect identity at the expense of connection
• How to stay regulated and engaged during high-stakes conversations
• How to build real capacity for equity-centered dialogue over time

In this episode:

• Why “good intentions” aren’t enough in conversations
• The four elements of the Immunity to Change framework
• How hidden commitments drive conflict behaviors
• Practical, interventions that reduce escalation
• Tools for facilitators and leaders navigating group conflict

If you’re navigating difficult conversations around equity and belonging, you’re not failing you’re developing.

Connection grows when we slow down enough to examine what’s happening inside.