The communication playbook: From conflict to collaboration with HBR’s Amy Gallo

Can conflict actually make your team stronger?

In this episode of How to Make a Leader, communication expert and Harvard Business Review podcast host Amy Gallo discusses the communication dynamics that shape high-performing professionals and teams.

Amy shares strategies to build trust, improve collaboration, and ensure that even the toughest conversations lead to progress. Whether you’re a team leader, an aspiring manager, or someone navigating complex work relationships, this episode is packed with insights to strengthen your communication skills and leadership approach.

You’ll learn:

• How high performing teams disagree respectfully and collaboratively
• How to approach difficult conversations in the workplace
• Strategies to improve communication across remote, hybrid, and in-person teams
• The leadership mindset shift that drives long-term success

Things to listen for:
(00:00) Introducing Amy Gallo
(01:39) Building trust quickly to enhance workplace communication
(04:57) Three key principles for navigating workplace conflict
(09:34) How remote and hybrid work impact workplace communication
(13:31) Strategies to prevent miscommunication in digital environments
(18:38) When to vent, when to wait, and when to take action
(21:27) What distinguishes high-performing teams from struggling teams
(24:49) Leadership strategies to encourage open and honest communication
(29:08) Emotional regulation and its impact on leadership effectiveness
(35:25) How societal tensions are influencing workplace interactions
(39:39) Maintaining composure in high-conflict situations
(44:13) Why connection should be a leadership priority

To learn more about Amy and her work, check out her Linkedin profile, her website, and her podcast. Read Amy Gallo’s book: Getting Along: How to Work with Anyone (Even Difficult People).

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What is How to Make a Leader?

Welcome to "How to Make a Leader," a leadership development podcast from Big Think+ where we take the best ideas from the biggest minds in learning and development and distill them into actionable insights. In each episode, host Hannah Beaver sits down with learning and development leaders to discuss how to create world-class leadership development programs, how to nurture frontline leadership skills, and even how to combat burnout.