Behind Difficult Conversation Part 3: How Different Personalities Handle Conflict

In this episode, I talk about how different people see and handle conflict. You'll learn how personality types like introverts, extroverts, thinkers, and feelers approach tough conversations and why that matters. We’ll also look at how our past experiences shape how we deal with conflict. By the end, you’ll have tools to listen better, respond with care, and find solutions that help everyone feel respected and understood. 

 

Key Takeaways:  

Society Often Frames Conflict as Dangerous – Media and culture often show conflict as dramatic and harmful, making many people fear or avoid it. In reality, it’s often just a difference in opinion or perspective. When we begin to shift the story around conflict, we can start seeing it as a chance for understanding and growth. 

 

Everyone Has a Different Perception of the Same Interaction – Every person brings their own lens, shaped by experiences, beliefs, and emotions, to every interaction. What one person hears and feels during a conflict may be completely different from the other person’s experience. Understanding this helps us avoid assumptions and encourages empathy. 

 

Conflict Can Feel Like a Threat to Safety – For those with past trauma, conflict may feel unsafe and trigger fear, avoidance, or aggression. Understanding this helps us respond with compassion instead of taking it personally. 

 

Not All Difficult Conversations Are Conflict – Tough conversations don’t always mean someone is angry or there’s a fight. Sometimes it’s just an uncomfortable topic or a disagreement that doesn’t escalate. Learning to differentiate between discomfort and danger is essential in improving how we communicate. 

 

Helpful Resources:  

• Personality Affects Conflict Styles – Our personality preferences strongly shape how we handle conflict. Using the Myers-Briggs framework, we can understand how people process, express, or avoid conflict based on whether they’re more introverted, extroverted, logical (thinker), or relationship-focused (feeler). 

• Thinkers and Feelers Can Challenge and Support Each Other – Thinkers may need to practice tuning into people’s emotions and honoring the relationship, not just the facts. Feelers may need to learn to assert facts and advocate for their needs without giving up their values. When both sides grow in these areas, conflict becomes more productive and respectful. 

• The Goal of Conflict Is Connection, Not Control – The point of a disagreement is not to dominate, win, or prove who’s right. It’s to understand each other, find common ground, and make progress. Healthy conflict leads to growth and clarity.  

 

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Hosted by: Dr. Maiysha Clairborne 

Communication is the foundation of everything and everything happens in communication. If you’re ready to take your communication to the next level, our Communication That Transforms course dives deep into creating psychological safety, handling crucial conversations, navigating conflict, and cultivating trust in a way that truly leaves the people in your life feeling seen, heard, respected and valued. It will transform how you lead and how you show up in all of your relationships . Learn more and register at www.mindremappingacademy.com/ticc. If you are a leader and your employees or teams are struggling with team dynamics, consider taking them through our new “Communications That Transforms” group cohort. 

 

See the full course breakdown and get a free preview of key modules to experience the value. Go to https://mindremappingacademy.com/course-catalogue and schedule a call with Dr. Clairborne at www.mindremappingacademy.com/corporate-programs