Maria invites her husband, David, a mediator and former managing director of a three-generation family business, to share his journey through the complexities of family dynamics and workplace conflict. David reflects on the contrasting leadership styles of his grandfather and father, highlighting the challenges of navigating a business steeped in tradition while adapting to modern demands. The conversation delves into the toxic undercurrents of unresolved family disputes that permeated the workplace, revealing how personal struggles often manifest in professional settings. As David recounts his transformative experience in mediation training, he emphasises the importance of understanding the human condition in business, advocating for joy and fulfillment in leadership. The episode culminates in a poignant reminder that a business is a reflection of its leaders, urging them to reflect on the joy and purpose behind their work.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Generational Business Dynamics: The evolution of a family business can reveal significant differences in leadership styles across generations, such as the contrast between a charismatic, risk-taking founder and a more systematic, stability-focused successor.

2. Impact of Personal Issues on Work: Personal emotional difficulties often manifest in workplace conflicts, highlighting the importance of understanding the human experiences behind professional interactions.

3. The Importance of Communication: Effective communication is crucial in managing diverse psychologies within a business. Recognising and accommodating different perspectives can lead to better collaboration and conflict resolution.

4. Humanity in Business: A successful business environment requires acknowledging the human condition, where employees are seen as whole individuals rather than mere cogs in a machine. This approach fosters a more supportive and productive workplace.

5. Joy and Fulfillment in Work: Leadership should reflect on whether their work brings joy and fulfillment. If the work environment feels painful or unfulfilling, it may be time to reassess and initiate meaningful conversations to improve the situation.

BEST MOMENTS

1. "The underlying conflicts were highly toxic, lasted generations, never went away. They never got resolved." - David

2. "What I learned from the mediation is there was another language to life." - David

3. "If you go out into the world and you talk to people, it isn't always going to work. In fact, it often isn't going to work." - David

4. "A business is always a reflection of its leaders, always, whether they like it or they don't." - David

5. "If what you're doing isn't joyful, if you don't get up in the morning and think, wow, isn't this great?" - David

SOCIAL LINKS

Website: https://mariaarpa.com/

Workplace Consultancy: https://workplacehuddle.com/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MariaArpaMBE

HOST BIO

Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).

Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Learn More About Us: https://www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org/