The hidden superpower of conflict competence 140 Artwork

Conflict Owner's Manual

Yes, we are your conflict tech support. We help you improve conflict competencies you already have. Our logo is a dandelion because conflict is like a weed invading your garden. You want to know how to manage it, and keep it from spreading. In each episode, we give you one real life conflict competency you can use right away to improve your skills, which will also improve the quality of your relationships.

Dr. Deborah Sword is a specialist in conflict analysis and management. Tyson Bankert is a community facilitator and artist. We have decades of experience helping people improve their conflict competencies.

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Conflict Owner's Manual

The hidden superpower of conflict competence 140

June 14, 2026 • Dr. Deborah Sword, with co-host Tyson Bankert • Season 7 • Episode 140

0:00 | 6:16

You're building conflict competencies to use in conflicts. But, these conflict skills actually apply every place you go, with everyone you meet, in every context and to every situation. While you practice conflict competencies for conflicts, you incidentally improve even your calm relationships. The hidden bonus is that you can use conflict competencies anywhere, which incidentally improves the quality of your life. What are those skills we call conflict competencies? Here's a partial conflict competence checklist, and there are more you can find in prior episodes.

show notes:
Partial list (in no particular order) of conflict competencies we’ve posted episodes about, include:

mindset,
clear communication,
perspective taking,
showing curiosity,
reframing,
staying nondefensive.
not jumping to conclusions,
testing your assumptions,
being aware of how your biases and your blind spots (we all have them) affect you,
recognizing the patterns that keep you stuck in conflict,
asking questions,
not rushing to solve problems before you know the right problem to solve.

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Dr. Deborah Sword is a conflict specialist with decades of experience and training to share.

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