We’ve all been angry or annoyed with someone at work. But our reactions can have less to do with the behaviours of others and much more to do with what’s happening within ourselves.

The most productive question you can ask in a heated moment isn’t about the other person. It’s: “Why is this bothering me so much?”

At Dialectic, we believe that conflict resolution is an act of self-knowledge. Often, a “pushed button” at work is actually a signal of an unhealed past experience or a relationship that needs attention.

Our team is currently diving into “Trauma Sensitivity at Work” by Adriana Leigh. It’s a game-changer that recasts trauma as something common, human, and deeply relevant to how we show up in the workplace every day.

Conflict doesn’t have to be a battle. It can be a mirror.