Newsletter #5: The One Question That Prevents Most Workplace Conflicts

Dear Reader,

The manufacturing leader wanted to fill a critical product lot despite being one day past the validated hold time. The quality leader immediately rejected the idea, citing compliance risks.

Both were right. Both were wrong. And without the right communication approach, this disagreement could have escalated into a relationship-damaging conflict.

The Hidden Assumption

After an hour of tense discussion, I finally asked the quality leader one curious question:

“Can you help me understand what specifically concerns you if we proceed?”

That’s when his subconscious concern surfaced: He feared that if we invested in filling the lot and the media fill later failed, there would be pressure to release it anyway.

Once we addressed that unstated assumption—agreeing upfront we’d reject the lot if the media fill failed—the conflict dissolved.

Why Smart People Disagree

After 40+ years in leadership, I’ve learned that most workplace conflicts aren’t actually about the stated issue. They’re about:

• Unstated assumptions we don’t realize we’re making

• Past experiences triggering emotional responses

• Different interpretations of the same problem

• Fear masquerading as logical objection

The quality leader’s resistance wasn’t irrational—it was his emotional mind protecting him from a scenario he’d likely experienced before.

The Power of Curious Questions

In The Success Guide, I introduce the framework of curious questioning—an approach that:

• Suspends your own point of view temporarily

• Resists the urge to defend your position

• Genuinely seeks to understand the other person’s thinking

• Illuminates hidden assumptions driving the disagreement

A curious question is non-threatening and opens dialogue. My go-to phrase:

“I find what you said interesting. Can you help me understand why you think that?”

Critical: Define the Problem First

Here’s a mistake I see constantly: Teams rush to solve problems they haven’t properly defined.

Manufacturing sees a production delay problem. Quality sees a compliance risk problem. They’re literally solving different problems—no wonder they can’t agree on solutions!

Before problem-solving:

1. Each party articulates their view of the problem

2. Use curious questions to understand different perspectives

3. Uncover assumptions driving each view

4. Reach agreement on the actual problem

5. Only then move to solutions

Yes, this takes more time upfront. But it prevents weeks of implementing wrong solutions.

The Manufacturing-Quality Dynamic

This dynamic plays out constantly in pharmaceutical manufacturing. Production pressures meet compliance requirements. Speed conflicts with thoroughness. Business needs clash with quality standards.

The solution isn’t choosing sides. It’s building a partnership where both teams understand:

• Manufacturing can’t succeed if quality is compromised

• Quality can’t arbitrarily block production without understanding patient impact

• The mission—saving lives—requires both teams working in harmony

When Communication Skills Really Matter

In The Success Guide, I dedicate an entire chapter to critical communication skills every leader needs:

• Active listening that goes beyond waiting for your turn to talk

• Asking questions that build trust rather than defensiveness

• Recognizing when emotions are driving reactions

• Managing your own emotional triggers

• Facilitating dialogue when teams are stuck

These aren’t soft skills—they’re the hard skills that separate good leaders from great ones.

Your Next Step

The Success Guide: How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment launches tomorrow, January 8th!

Over these five newsletters, we’ve covered:

• Why emotional intelligence determines 90% of workplace success

• How trust-based organizations outperform fear-based ones

• The Vision Stack framework for strategic clarity

• How to engineer flow states for peak performance

• Communication skills that prevent workplace conflicts

But these newsletters only scratch the surface. The book provides:

✓ Detailed frameworks you can implement immediately

✓ Real case studies from pharmaceutical manufacturing

✓ Self-assessment tools for building awareness

✓ Actionable strategies for individuals, teams, and leaders

✓ Proven approaches from 40+ years of leadership experience

This isn’t theory—it’s a practical roadmap drawn from decades of leading high-performing teams in highly regulated industries.

Get Your Copy

Available now on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats.

Whether you’re an individual contributor looking to advance, a team leader building high-performing groups, or an executive shaping organizational culture—this book provides the frameworks you need.

Thank you for joining me on this journey through these newsletters. I hope they’ve provided value, and I look forward to supporting your continued success through the complete guide.

To your success,

Ed Bjurstrom

Founder, Mountain Top Consulting

Author of The Success Guide: How to Thrive in the Corporate Environment

P.S. If you found value in these newsletters, the book goes 10X deeper. Plus, early reviews help other leaders discover these principles—I’d be grateful if you’d leave an honest review on Amazon after reading.