Seeking safety in groups, our brains have evolved a deep sensitivity to social hierarchy and what is happening in our interactions with others. Our social nature gives us a strong innate need to be seen and heard by others, to belong to a group and to be treated fairly compared to others.

As organizations shift towards a racial justice-centred culture, Regardless of if a conflict is task-oriented or those where social needs are violated by others, a fear of open conflict must be replaced with the strategies and skills for productive struggle.

In this session, participants will reflect on how their upbringing informs how they respond and react to conflict in the workplace, unpack how a victim-mindset may take over when the conflict overlaps with positional power differences, consider how to self-coach oneself to identify and articulate core unmet needs, and design requests to resolve tension.