Think conflict only happens when people are yelling at each other? Think again. 

Most workplace conflict isn’t about people hating each other—it’s about different approaches to getting work done. When you understand the five conflict styles and how they interact, you can turn potential clashes into opportunities for stronger relationships and better results.

Podcast guest, Dr. John Eliot mentors executives and advises professional sports teams, coaches, and athletes on how to apply individual and organizational psychology principles for enhancing health, performance, workplace culture, and the bottom line. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and numerous other publications. John is also the co-author of  the new book, “How to Get Along With Anyone”.  

This episode explores different conflict styles, offering practical strategies for predicting, preventing, and resolving disagreements to build stronger teams and boost productivity. We delve into task vs. process conflicts, the importance of understanding your own conflict style and those of your colleagues, and practical communication techniques to improve teamwork.

Learn how to spot the hidden friction points that could be holding your team back from peak performance. 

Key Highlights

• The Three Types of Conflict: Task conflict, process conflict, and relational conflict – and why most workplace issues aren’t what you think they are.
• The Five Conflict Styles: Avoider, Competitor, Analyzer, Collaborator, and Accommodator – each with their own strengths and ideal situations.
• The Communication Matrix: Understanding timing, tone, route, and mode preferences for each team member.
• The Draft Message Technique: A simple but powerful tool for managing emotional responses in digital communication.
• Conflict Agenda: How to get past positions and issues to uncover the real interests driving conflict.
• Team Building Games: Practical exercises to help teams understand different conflict styles.

Links Mentioned

• Website: theconflictdocs.com
• Book: “How to Get Along with Anyone” by Dr. John Eliot and Dr. Jim Guinn

Full Bio

JOHN ELIOT, PHD, mentors executives and advises professional sports teams, coaches, and athletes on how to apply individual and organizational psychology principles for enhancing health, performance, workplace culture, and the bottom line. He has consulted for NASA, the US Olympic Committee, the Mayo Clinic, Sony, Microsoft, and other Fortune 500 companies. His work has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, ESPN, Fox Sports, MSNBC, Bloomberg, Harvard Business Review, and more.

Eliot has held professorial appointments at the University of Virginia, Stanford, Rice, the SMU Edwin Cox School of Business, and the Texas Medical Center, where he won teaching awards at each.