Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack

When conflict erupts at work, the default response is often simple: get everyone in a room, let each person share their perspective, and work toward an agreement. So why do so many workplace conflicts return just weeks later? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack challenges one of the most common assumptions in conflict resolution, that bringing people together to "talk it out" is the best...

Why do difficult conversations seem to spiral so quickly, even when you're trying to stay calm? One reason lies in the way your brain interprets what's happening inside your body. As your heart rate rises and your breathing changes during conflict, your brain can mistakenly read those physical sensations as evidence that you're in even greater danger, creating a cycle that makes cle...

Why do some disagreements feel like a personal attack, even when they aren't? When conflict triggers your nervous system, your brain shifts into a threat response, making it harder to think clearly, stay present, or respond the way you intended. The good news is that you can interrupt that process. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explains why conflict activates the brain's threat cir...

Have you ever said something in the middle of an argument that you immediately wished you could take back? In those moments, it's easy to think you simply lost your temper. But according to neuroscience, something else is happening: your nervous system has shifted into a threat response, temporarily taking your brain's higher reasoning offline. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack shares...

Psychological safety has become one of the most talked-about ideas in leadership, but what if we've misunderstood it? In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explores how the popular interpretation of psychological safety may actually be making teams less resilient by encouraging conflict avoidance rather than healthy disagreement. Drawing from neuroscience, organizational psychology, and conflic...

When co-founders stop having honest conversations, the business often feels the impact long before anyone addresses the problem. In this episode, we explore a common but rarely discussed leadership challenge: growing resentment between co-founders. What happens when one partner begins making major decisions without collaboration? How do you raise concerns without triggering defensiveness, blame, o...

Why do so many leaders avoid accountability conversations, even when they know those conversations matter?  In this video, Dr. Jeremy Pollack breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in leadership communication: accountability itself is not what damages morale, trust, or relationships. More often, the real problem is how accountability conversations are handled.  You’ll learn why these conver...

Most leaders don’t struggle with conflict because they lack authority.  They struggle because timing is unclear and the cost of getting it wrong builds quietly over time. Step in too late, and conflict becomes layered, emotional, and harder to untangle.  Step in too early, and you unintentionally take ownership away from your team. I will break down the real leadership challenge behind conflict ma...

Why do workplace conflicts escalate so quickly, even when no one intends harm? In this video, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explains why workplace conflicts escalate and how to stop it by unpacking two powerful psychological drivers: cognitive bias and emotional reactivity. What starts as a simple misunderstanding can quickly spiral when our brains assign meaning, trigger emotion, and react before we’ve full...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack , we challenge one of the most common misconceptions in the workplace: conflict itself isn’t the problem—lack of training is. Dr. Jeremy Pollack explains how recurring tension is rarely about difficult people, but instead reflects a gap in conflict competency. Without a structured pathway for developing communication and de-escalation skills, every...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack , we explore one of the most overlooked yet essential qualities in conflict resolution—humility. Far from being a sign of weakness, humility is a strategic skill that opens the door to trust, collaboration, and lasting solutions. Dr. Pollack breaks down how humility depends on two key sub-traits—confidence and curiosity—and why both are necessary t...

Episode Summary: In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explores one of the most common emotional traps we fall into—taking things personally. Whether it’s a curt email, a dismissive look, or tough feedback, it’s easy to assume it’s about us. But in most cases, it’s not. Dr. Pollack breaks down why we take things personally, how it affects our nervous system and workplace relationships, and five prac...

Episode Summary: Negotiation doesn’t have to feel like a battle. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack walks you through three essential steps to negotiating effectively—without tension or confusion. Whether you're aiming for a raise, a promotion, or a clearer role at work, this framework will help you approach the conversation with confidence, clarity, and respect. Through a relatable scenario...

🗓️ Episode Summary:  In today’s episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack explores how to build and maintain healthy boundaries between friendship and professionalism in the workplace. It’s easy—and often natural—to form close bonds with coworkers, but without clear boundaries, those relationships can lead to favoritism, burnout, or blurred responsibilities. Learn how to protect your wellbeing while fostering a...

This is a short course on the human psychological tendency to be right, and how that tendency fuels conflict. It’s designed to help you understand the cognitive underpinnings of this common human drive toward being right, how it influences workplace conflict, and how we might mitigate its negative effects at work.  For the full episode, including a downloadable eBook supplement, please join Dr. Po...

Episode Summary In this episode, Jeremy explores how to use assertiveness —not passivity or aggression—to set clear, respectful boundaries at work. You’ll learn practical tools to protect your time, reduce burnout, and improve communication with colleagues and supervisors. What You’ll Learn What assertiveness really is (and isn’t) Why boundary-setting is key to professional well-being The 4-step a...

🔎 Episode Summary: Being bullied at work—whether by a peer or supervisor—can be isolating, frustrating, and deeply stressful. In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Pollack shares 7 practical, research-backed steps to help you recognize, respond to, and recover from workplace bullying. You’ll hear real-world examples, learn how to protect your mental health, and gain tools to take back your power—while stay...

🔍 Episode Summary In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack , Jeremy dives into a critical skill for every new manager and team lead: building trust. Trust isn't automatic—it’s something you intentionally earn. Without it, even the best plans falter. But with it? You can prevent conflict, foster resilience, and lead with influence instead of authority. Whether you’re stepping into a...

This is a short course on the efficacy and use cases of Psychometric Assessment Tools for Conflict Management. It’s designed to help you understand how conflict style assessments work and how you might use them in an organizational setting to help employees and leaders better understand themselves and each other with regard to their conflict management styles.  For the full episode, including a do...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, Saima shares her struggle with a toxic work environment, where her boss seems to be undermining her due to office politics and possible budget cuts. Frustrated and feeling gaslit, Saima is looking for a way to cope while actively applying for new roles. Dr. Pollack provides strategies to help her stay grounded, set boundaries, and maintain self-wo...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, Marcus seeks guidance on dealing with job insecurity as his current company shows signs of potential failure. After switching jobs for career growth, Marcus now finds himself in a challenging situation where he wonders whether to stay or start looking for new opportunities. Dr. Pollack walks him through strategies for having open conversations wit...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, Jenna shares her frustration with a bullying colleague whose domineering behavior disrupts team dynamics and goes unchecked by their boss. Despite repeated complaints, her boss continues to overlook this behavior, leaving Jenna and her team feeling unsupported. Dr. Pollack offers strategies for approaching this difficult situation, including takin...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, Sam shares his frustration with a boss who insists on daily and weekly meetings that disrupt his sales performance. Despite being the company’s top salesperson, Sam feels micromanaged and unable to focus on what he does best. Dr. Pollack provides insights on how to approach the conversation with a collaborative mindset to reduce meeting frequency,...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, Alexandra shares a frustrating workplace conflict where her supervisor consistently makes order mistakes but refuses to take accountability, leaving her to deal with the fallout. Dr. Pollack provides strategies to approach the situation as a team effort, align on processes, and frame the conversation in a way that fosters collaboration rather than...

In this episode of Peacebuilding with Dr. Pollack, William shares his experience of being contracted to develop software for a school, only to face constant requests for additional features that weren't part of the original agreement. Struggling to balance client satisfaction and his own workload, William seeks advice on how to handle scope creep and how to ask for fair compensation for the e...