WHAT WILL THE AUDIENCE LEARN?
What if tension isn’t a threat—but the key to breakthrough thinking and faster decisions? What if the conflict you’re avoiding is the conversation your team desperately needs?
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why the conflicts they're avoiding are actually the breakthrough conversations their organizations desperately need
- Why "keeping the peace" during rapid change leads to slower decisions, missed opportunities, and eventual explosions
- A practical framework for distinguishing between destructive drama and productive friction that accelerates results
- How to transform exhausted, resistant teams into engaged problem-solvers who thrive on complexity during rapid change
We’re not just talking about friction—we’re reframing it. This episode invites you to rethink everything you’ve been taught about conflict in leadership. Most high-achievers believe that success comes from maintaining control, smoothing over disagreements, and keeping the peace. But what if that’s exactly what’s holding your team back?
In this raw and real conversation, we dig into how avoiding tension delays progress, waters down innovation, and breeds quiet resistance that shows up when it matters most. You'll learn how to move from suppression to strategic friction—where tough conversations fuel creativity, unlock alignment, and accelerate results.
This episode is a mirror for leaders who feel stuck in endless consensus-building or exhausted by invisible resistance. It’s a wake-up call for those who fear conflict but crave momentum. If you’ve ever wondered why your smartest teams still stall out, this one’s for you.
You’ll walk away with:
- A blueprint for productive conflict that accelerates change
- New language for managing competing priorities under pressure
- Real-world stories of what actually works when the stakes are high
If you’re ready to stop walking on eggshells and start leading with clarity—press play.
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ABOUT OUR GUEST:
Alexandra Prassas is an Organizational Effectiveness leader with 20+ years in the People & Culture space. Currently she partners with organizations to realize growth strategies through optimizing People systems, leadership, and organization design, and is passionate about helping leaders harness organizational tensions to drive breakthrough results during rapid change and transformation. Previously, she led global Organization Development and DEI functions internally and Change Management for large-scale transformations externally, empowering companies across a range of industries to navigate organizational evolution. Alix serves as Adjunct Faculty in IO-Psychology at The Chicago School, President of ACMP Midwest, and Lead for Culture First Chicago. She is a PhD candidate in Organizational Leadership.
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IF YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE, CAN I ASK A FAVOR?
We do not receive any funding or sponsorship for this podcast. If you learned something and feel others could also benefit, please leave a positive review. Every review helps amplify our work and visibility. This is especially helpful for small women-owned boot-strapped businesses. Simply go to the bottom of the Apple Podcast page to enter a review. Thank you!
***
LINKS:
www.gotowerscope.com
https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-hard-skills-dr-mira-brancu-m0QzwsFiBGE/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandraprassas/
#OrganizationalEffectiveness #ProductiveConflict #TheHardSkills
Tune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc
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