Workplace conflict doesn’t just disappear, it spreads. Learn five practical steps to rebuild trust, strengthen communication, and fix a toxic culture so your team can perform at its best.
If you’ve ever walked into a meeting and felt the tension before anyone said a word, this episode is for you.
When workplace drama turns into silence, gossip, or passive-aggressive behavior, you’re not just managing conflict, you’re managing culture.
In this episode of You’re the Boss, Now What?, leadership coach Desiree Petrich shares the five steps she uses when she’s brought in to help teams rebuild trust and communication after conflict has taken root.
You’ll learn how to transform team tension into connection and turn uncomfortable conversations into meaningful progress. These are the same frameworks Desiree uses inside her leadership coaching and team development workshops, designed to help leaders protect their team’s energy and build healthy, high-performing workplaces.
In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
- How to identify when workplace tension has turned into toxicity
- The right way to “clear the air” without losing control of the conversation
- How self-awareness and behavioral tools (like DISC or Working Genius) reduce friction
- Why creating a shared team language makes accountability easier
- How vulnerability and consistency build long-term trust
- A simple monthly rhythm to keep conflict healthy and communication strong
Key Takeaways
- Conflict handled early builds trust. Avoiding it just builds resentment.
- Awareness dissolves drama. When people understand each other, tension loses power.
- Trust is a practice, not a project. It’s built through consistent, honest conversations.
Leadership Game Questions
- What are three things our team does well, and what are three things we could do better?
- What is one challenge we are currentlyl facing as a team? What can we change in ourselves to improve our situation?
- What group of people do we need to be more intentional about listening to? (Employees / Clients / Customers / Shareholders / Ambassadors / etc.)
- What makes a day successful for you?
"Keep the Conversation Going" Questions
1. What's working?
2. Where are we drifting from who we said we'd be?
3. What do we need to talk about before it turns into tension?
And if you’d like help facilitating these conversations, this is
Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead
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