The quick answer to the title question is:

Because speech is the most powerful conflict management tool we have.

In this episode, I’m joined by Prof. Sophie Scott of The Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, who:

Helps me bust one of my favourite communication myths,

Speaks from experience – including her experience of doing stand-up – about science?! And

Shares the most important tip to help any of us start harnessing the power of speech across the board.

Once you can do what Sophie recommends, you can take advantage of the more specific conflict management tips I’ll give you on the blog.

On the show, we talk about one way our voices connect us without words – when we laugh – and I promise you a link to ‘Bill Bailey’s little LOL experiment’ – so here it is:

https://youtu.be/q8pqepZW7-E?si=gtK2hoNa6YBE98ud

I also promise you the link to the full version of Sophie’s Standup set (as part of UCL’s Bright Club, in 2011) – although I do need to correct myself on that score –

I say you can ‘watch the whole thing on YouTube’ – but I should have said ‘listen’ – at least, I can only find the audio:

https://youtu.be/xCuaqH4xgCA?si=yHRaFfTaFOcXuxWR

The one little ‘naughty’ word in that clip is why I’ve had to mark this episode as ‘explicit’!

As always, if you need help with any aspect of conflict management at work, come and talk to me! All my details are on the website:

http://www.savvybusinessresolutions.com

After last week’s look at technology as an attention barrier (and bridge), this time:

I’ll bust a myth – with the help of Dr. Graham Music of The Tavistock Centre,,

Ivan Newman will get me to ‘Speak from Experience’ and

I’ll give you a tip,

all connected with a very human obstacle – and opportunity.

Although the show isn’t marked as ‘explicit’, it does carry a warning, which I’d better repeat here:

This episode includes terms which some listeners may find disturbing.

It’s ok – it’s only ‘those of an insensitive disposition’ who ‘might want to cover their ears’, because we’re dealing with the role of emotions in business, from prejudice to empathy.

‘So there’s no light note to end on this week’, I hear you assume! Oh, yes, there is - courtesy of an ex-boss of mine, who, back in 1990, demonstrated perfectly how not to interview a guide dog owner …

On the blog, I’ll dig into the roots of her – and our – assumptions which, left to their own devices, can grow up to be prejudices.

If you need help with any aspect of conflict management at work, come and talk to me! All my details are on the website:

http://www.savvybusinessresolutions.com

Following the thread through last week’s show (the conflicted relationship between information and attention), In this episode, we’re homing in on two sides of the relationship between attention and a key source of information - technology:

Part 1 News – Where do you stand on people checking their phones in meetings?;

Part 2 Myth-busting – we’ll discover the truth about multi-tasking, with the help of Prof. Michael Proulx of The University of Bath – and Prof. Jesse Stommel of The University of Mary Washington urges us to keep the conversation open re tech in education.

Part 3 Speaking from Experience – we’ll hear from Ivan Newman, formerly of Living Inside the Brand, about tech as an attention barrier and bridge.

We’ve also got a BOGOF (buy one get one free) on tips – there’s one from Ivan and one from me!

We’ll finish, as always, on a lighter note:

I’ll tell you about when tech told me what I thought of a company I’d just bought from; and Jesse recommends a couple of things we might want to ban from the classroom before phones!

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the blog, for more tips on the topic of each episode of the pod.

If you:

Have any questions or comments about the show or

Need help with any aspect of conflict management at work,

Come and talk to me! All my contact details are on the website – http://www.savvybusinessresolutions.com

This episode comes at the end of a ten-day week – because of technical issues around distribution (which I’ve outlined on what should have been last week’s blog!) Is that clear? I hope so!

Across the three parts of this pod, we’re looking at another potential cause of misunderstanding:

Part 1 News - we’ll talk about some responses to the headline that dominated the last show (and the rest of the media!); and I’ll ask for your reactions to some less dramatic items, flowing from the new tax year.

Part 2 Myth-busting - We’ll question a common assumption relating to the two biggest challenges in organizational communication, with some help from:

· Prof. Michael Proulx of The University of Bath and

· The late Prof. Susanne Corkin.

Part 3 Speaking from experience - We’ll hear more from retired Solicitor Chris Arnheim, this time, on the ‘danger’ of clients not being clear on what their contracts mean.

I’ll also give you a tip – which I hope will be obvious.

We’ll finish with a couple of slightly strange examples of situations where it wasn’t even clear whether there was a contract!

If you:

· Have any questions or comments about the show or

· Need help with any aspect of conflict management at work,

Come and talk to me! All my contact details are on the website.

Following the programme with Julian Treasure, about listening (which he calls ‘the gateway to understanding’), this episode is about breaking down one kind of barrier that can block the gate. Guests include:

· American businesswoman, Colleen Jolly, who shares her first experience of a trans-Atlantic misunderstanding,

· Solicitor, Chris Arnheim (now retired), who talks about jargon – in plain English!; and

· US President, Donald Trump, who kicks it all off (in more ways than one!)

No, ok, he isn’t actually on the show – he was a bit busy!; but I’ll talk about his ‘Liberation Day’ speech anyway.

There’s also:

· A chance to tell me where you stand on the new tariffs,

· A tip for a conversational investment opportunity and

· Some earlier ‘weird words’ from Washington.

If you have any questions, comments or contributions relating to the show – or if you need help with any aspect of conflict management at work – drop me an email.

‘In this episode, I talk to internationally renowned sound expert, Julian Treasure, about ‘the most important skill for any manager’ – listening. I’ve divided our conversation into three parts:

Part1: Our relationship with sound and the link between noise and conflict;

Part2 Tools to help you pave the way to dispute resolution and conflict management;

Part3 Information about:

• ‘Sound Affects’ – Julian’s new book and
• The Listening Society – the community and resource hub launching on 1st May 2025, for anyone who wants to improve their own, or ‘the world’s’ listening.

To get hold of a copy of the new book, click here.

For a month’s free trial of The Listening Society, click here, and

Click here for more information about Julian, including his:

• previous books,
• TED talks, and
• Work with organisations,

To talk to me – about the show, or if you need help with any aspect of conflict management at work, drop me an email.

Sherie Griffiths LL.B M.CHIArb

sherie@savvybusinessresolutions.com

Savvy Business Resolutions

An outline of the series - including what it's about, who it's for - and why I decided to make it. If you'd like to get involved, or if you need help with conflict management at work, drop me an email - Sherie@savvybusinessresolutions.com