Conflict, Conflict Everywhere: How to Resolve Conflict at Work

AI generated image depicted people in conflict tug of war

Context matters. When conflict erupts at work, it’s easy to focus on the outburst, not the circumstances that led to it. Take my friend’s brother—suspended without pay for lashing out after being undermined. What his boss didn’t consider? He had just lost his mother and had a child in the hospital.

As leaders, we must create space for employees to navigate stress, not just react to their missteps. Using an empowerment-based model like SBAR—situation, background, analysis, recommendations—can help de-escalate conflict and build stronger teams. How do you handle workplace conflict?

March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival

Welcome to the March 2025 Leadership Development Carnival! Horizon Point is excited to host the carnival this month, featuring  posts from leadership experts from around the globe on the topics of communication, development, engagement, motivation, productivity, team building, and more.  The Framework for Organizational Excellence by John Spence Excellence isn’t accidental—it’s built with purpose. My new Organizational Excellence Framework brings together the key elements of success: purpose, culture, strategy, innovation, and simplicity. Read to see how it all comes together. How To Build a Better Relationship with Your Difficult (Icy) Boss by Karin Hurt  You know the type: the difficult

Are You Leading or Just Managing? Let’s Find Out

The terms manager and leader often get used interchangeably, but should they? “Leading versus managing” is a common search phrase. At HPC, we don’t really think it’s a “versus” situation. You can be a good manager without being a great leader, but you can’t be a great leader without strong management skills. So, what’s distinct about them, and why does it matter? Let’s break it down.  You Manage Time and Tasks Management primarily involves managing things that largely impact people, but it does not seek to influence people like leadership does.  It’s hard to lead others well if you can

You’re Killin’ Me Smalls! 4 Powerful Leadership Lessons from The Sandlot

My boys love baseball. I tolerate it. Our little one started t-ball last year and has become obsessed, so naturally The Sandlot is now his favorite movie.  He watches it on repeat now.  Again, I tolerate it being on pretty much 24/7 at our house.  But the other day it was playing in the background, and I sat down for a second to watch.  “This Benny kid”, I thought, “this kid is a real leader”.  Then I proceeded to watch the entire rest of the movie tuned in to this realization: there are powerful leadership lessons from The Sandlot.  As

3 Strategies to Strengthen Professional Relationships in 2025

group of people doing a fist bump

Building and maintaining professional relationships is essential for success in today’s dynamic work environment. Whether you’re leading a team, collaborating with colleagues, or expanding your network, strong professional relationships are the key to achieving your goals and innovating the workplace (which you know we love!). Here are three powerful strategies to strengthen your professional relationships this year: 1. Prioritize open and authentic communication Every great relationship starts with clear, consistent communication. But in today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, connecting authentically can be a challenge. It’s not just about talking; it’s about actively listening, encouraging dialogue, and building trust. Schedule regular check-ins—whether