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James Chicano is a nationally recognized conflict resolution expert, facilitator, and leadership coach with over 25 years of experience. He specializes in helping leaders navigate high-stress and high-stakes challenges with clarity and composure. James has worked on hundreds of complex cases across both the public and private sectors, focusing on workplace conflict, organizational change, team dysfunction, and multi-stakeholder tension.

He emphasizes the importance of being "conflict competent" as a leader and discusses the need to hone skills that many leaders often overlook, including negotiation, mediation, and coaching. Throughout the conversation, James imparts valuable insights into the nature of conflict and how it can be transformed into a constructive force for organizational improvement.

James underscores the critical competencies required for effective conflict management, such as emotional intelligence, assertiveness, and deep listening. Attuned to the dynamics of modern workplaces, he also shares unconventional methodologies like breathwork to manage tension, encouraging leaders to explore new ways of fostering healthy communication and understanding.

Key Takeaways:

• Conflict Competency: Leaders need to develop conflict management skills, including negotiation and facilitation, which are often underemphasized in traditional leadership training.
• Attitude, Process, and Skills: These three dimensions—attitude towards conflict, processes for resolution, and specific skills like deep listening and empathy—are crucial in managing disagreements effectively.
• Emotional Regulation: Techniques like breathwork can help leaders and employees alike manage emotions and maintain focus during challenging conversations.
• Curiosity and Listening: Staying open and curious, coupled with deep listening, can open pathways to understanding and resolving conflicts constructively.
• Owning the Approach: Leaders must decide and own their role in a conflict, choosing between engagement, coaching, or facilitation strategies to manage tensions effectively.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Conflict is a phenomenon of difference, and it occurs all over. The question is, what strategies are available to deal with it?"
2. "In my mind, we have to be very deliberate about how we engage in conflict."
3. "Leaders are expected to have a multitude of different capacities when addressing conflict."
4. "Effective communication is the creation of shared meaning—it doesn't mean we agree, but we have a sense of where we're each coming from."

Resources:

• James Chicano on LinkedIn
• University of Victoria: Website (implicit reference)
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