Episode 56: How to Handle Workplace Communication Conflict

Send us a text

Have you ever walked away from a high-stakes meeting feeling small, even though no one said anything overtly harsh? You might be falling into the Mirror Trap: The subconscious expectation that colleagues should match your tone, hedging, and warmth. When they don’t, it feels like disrespect, but it’s often just a data-processing difference.

In this episode of Faith Meets Academia, we unpack why workplace communication conflict happens and how to stop it from derailing your projects. We combine the psychology of Communication Accommodation Theory with the Apostle Paul’s biblical strategy of "becoming all things to all people" to give you a practical roadmap for difficult conversations.

You’ll learn how to:

• Escape the mirror trap: Separate tone from substance to protect your peace.
• Reinforce your application of the "It’s Me" formula: A simple reset to turn blunt critiques into clear deliverables.
• Practice positive accommodation: Adapt to direct communicators without mirroring their negativity.
• Apply grace-based listening: Remove cognitive friction and lead with quiet confidence.

Stop the "tone wars" and start leading. If this episode helps you navigate a clash this week, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a friend or colleague!

WEBSITE: https://faithmeetsacademia.buzzsprout.com/2312145/episodes

CONTACT: [e-mail]

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely my own and do not reflect or represent the positions, policies, or opinions of my employer, any organization or academic institution with which I am affiliated. This podcast is a personal initiative, and is not connected to my official/ formal duties and responsibilities as a university professor.