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 b

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

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Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

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Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Coachin...

One negative employee can tank performance by 30 to 40 percent. Learn how to tell the difference between realism and pessimism, protect team dynamics, and know when it’s time to let someone go with confidence.

Last week we talked about imposter syndrome, storytelling, and executive presence with a communication Matt Mosich. This week we shift from the stories in your head to the stories on your team.

If you’ve inherited a high performer who drags down morale, you’re not alone. Many first-time managers avoid action because conflict feels risky and backfilling is hard. Meanwhile, your best people consider leaving.

In this episode, we unpack the root causes behind “negativity” and why not all pushback is toxic. You’ll learn how to spot the difference between a realist who’s trying to protect the team and a pessimist who drains it, how to coach for better behavior, and how to document impact so HR conversations are clear and actionable. You’ll also get three reflection questions to help you decide if it’s time to let someone go.

Key Takeaways
• Realism vs pessimism: identify intent, not just tone, so you don’t label constructive risk checks as negativity.

• Coachable or contagious: use behavior impact and willingness to change to decide your next step.

• Protect the team’s energy: leaders keep culture by addressing harmful behavior early and documenting impact, not just attitude.

Want help understanding your team’s default styles so meetings stop derailing and decisions stick? Take a quick self-awareness assessment and explore DISC or Working Genius for your team at intentionalaction.net/self-awareness.

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Coachin...

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t belong in your leadership role — or that you’re just “faking it” — you’re not alone.
This episode will show you how to stop letting imposter syndrome run the show and start leading with presence and authority.

Matt, an executive communication and storytelling coach, shares how he went from hiding behind self-doubt to helping CEOs and founders find their voice — and how you can do the same.

By the time you finish listening, you’ll discover:

• How to identify the stories holding you back and rewrite them
• What confidence actually is and how to access it before any meeting
• A simple storytelling framework to build trust fast with your team

Key Takeaways

• Confidence isn’t a feeling — it’s a choice you practice daily.
• Your story shapes how you lead. Rewrite it to reflect the leader you’re becoming.
• Storytelling builds trust faster than authority alone ever could.

Connect with Matt on Linkedin

Connect With Desiree on Linkedin
Buy the book - Taking Intentional Action: How to Choose the Life You Lead

Liked this episode? Share it with a fellow podcaster!

Love this show? Say thanks by leaving a positive review.

Take the DISC or Working Genius Assessment and get a FREE 20 minutes debrief with Desiree

Get a curated list of Desiree's favorite books in every genre

Connect: Linked In | Instagram | Website

Coachin...