Mutual Ground Strategies, LLC

01/06/2026

Why do conflicts become emotional so quickly, even when the issue seems small?

Often, it’s because dignity has been violated.

Donna Hicks describes dignity as a set of 10 core needs we all share.
When one of those needs isn’t recognized, people don’t just disagree. They react.

What looks like overreaction is often a response to not feeling seen or respected as a whole person.

Conflict changes when dignity is acknowledged.

01/02/2026

Conflict isn’t the problem.
Rushing past it is.

When people slow down enough to understand what’s actually happening between them, clarity follows.

That’s the work.

12/18/2025

Ever been in a conversation that suddenly went off the rails?

One moment everyone is calm, and the next they are talking over each other and you are trying to figure out how to get things back on track.

I see this often in my work with clients, teams, and business partners.
To help steady these moments, I use a simple framework called SOS:

• Slow the moment
• Observe what is happening
• Shift toward the future

In my latest post, I walk through how it works and why it helps.

Read the full piece here: https://www.mutual-ground.com/post/de-escalate-conflict-sos-method

A simple three-step method to steady tense conversations, lower the temperature, and guide people back into a more workable place.

12/08/2025

Why do conversations derail the moment we start arguing the facts?

Because when people are focused on who’s right, the conversation stops being about understanding and becomes a contest.

When I guide people through important conversations, I stay out of that contest.

I don't weigh in on who is to blame.
I don't tell you what to do to fix the past.
And it's not my role to decide who wins.
I’m not a judge.
And I don’t let the process get swallowed by a debate that never moves anyone forward.

Facts have their place, but they don’t create the kind of insight or connection that helps people shift. They don’t change how someone feels or what they’re willing to try next.

Movement comes from clarity about the future.
When people stop replaying the story and start exploring what would make things workable again, the whole tone changes. Listening opens up. Options surface.

Future-focused conversations give people room to recalibrate and regain momentum. That’s where change actually happens.

Are you stuck arguing about what happened, or ready to decide what comes next?

12/04/2025

Why do so many conflicts stay stuck?

Because when we’re busy arguing the facts or trying to win the narrative, we stop listening. We stop trying to understand. And without understanding, no one can move forward.

In practice, “what happened” is almost never the real barrier. People can remember the same moment in completely different ways, and arguing about whose version is correct only hardens positions.

What actually moves things forward is clarity about the future.
What you need. What matters now. What would make things workable again.

When people shift from debating the past to exploring what they want going forward, conversations open up. Listening gets easier. Possibilities start to surface.

And that’s when progress becomes possible.

11/28/2025

I grew up cutting wood with my family, and this month I helped my dad fill the last gap in their woodpile. Later, when I watched this video, I realized the chainsaw was much duller than I thought. My forearm and lower back definitely felt it.

It reminded me how easy it is to miss the things that are quietly wearing us down. When I’m not paying attention, everything takes more effort, and I don’t always see why right away.

As I prepare for 2026, I’m reflecting on where I want to spend my energy and what needs sharpening so the work feels lighter and more effective.

If you’d like to follow along with these reflections, I share a monthly newsletter on communication, conflict resolution, and the ways we show up for one another.

Subscribe here:
https://go.mutual-ground.com/widget/form/KKkosEo4rRV4YZ9zVfve

11/28/2025

This fall I helped my dad cut and sort wood at my parents’ house. When I watched the video later, I had to laugh. The chainsaw was clearly dull, and the work took way more effort than it needed to.

It made me think about my work and where my energy goes. When we are tired, stretched thin, or not paying attention, even the simple things take more effort than they should.

As I look toward 2026, I am asking myself what I want to sharpen and how I want to show up next year.

If you would like monthly reflections and stories like this, I would love to share my newsletter with you.

You can subscribe here:
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11/25/2025

Most people rush into tough conversations without first understanding what’s really going on.

That’s why I created a simple 4-step playbook to help you navigate them more intentionally.

It starts with defining the real issue and asking yourself whether you even want to have the conversation.

That reflection often reveals that the conflict is more layered than it first appeared.

When both people start working toward solving the same challenge, something shifts.

It stops being about blame and becomes about clarity, resolution, and shared understanding.

So when conflict shows up, ask yourself:
Are we opponents, or partners trying to solve the same problem?

Interested in the Playbook? Send me a message or go here: https://resources.mutual-ground.com/resolving-conflict

11/20/2025

Most conflicts look simple on the surface, but they rarely are.

The tension isn’t just about the issue at hand, it’s often about what’s underneath: unmet needs, unclear values, or our own internal struggles. Often, people don’t realize what’s really driving them until the conversation slows down enough to uncover it.

Whether I’m mediating, coaching, or facilitating, the goal isn’t to rush to quick fixes. It’s to create space to name what matters most, so people can see themselves—and each other—more clearly. Once that happens, they can start finding outcomes that actually meet those deeper needs.

Next time you’re in a conflict, try asking yourself: what’s the need under the surface here? Mine or theirs?

11/17/2025

As I like to say, if there was a rational answer to the problem, people wouldn’t be in conflict.

Most conflicts aren’t about logic. They’re about relationships, emotion, and trust.

So how do you recognize the signs before it blows up?

Don't wait for the shouting match or the big disagreement to tell you something’s wrong.

Look for:
Meetings that run smoothly but feel flat.
When people start saying “whatever you think.”
Subtle cues in body language and tone that point to disengagement.

I wrote about how to recognize these early signs and what to do once you start to notice them before frustration hardens into blame.

🔗 Read: How to Recognize the Early Signs of Workplace Conflict
https://www.mutual-ground.com/post/early-signs-of-workplace-conflict

Conflict rarely starts with an argument. It begins quietly, in subtle shifts that signal trust or communication is starting to fray. Learn how to recognize the early signs of workplace conflict before they grow into something harder to repair.

11/13/2025

When one business partner is ready to address the tension and the other keeps avoiding it, progress can feel impossible.

Avoidance doesn’t mean they don’t care, it usually means they don’t feel safe enough to talk or don’t know how to start.

The Mutual Conflict Map helps you see what’s really going on and prepare for productive conversations when the time is right.

Learn more or book a session here: www.mutual-ground.com/mutual-conflict-map

11/07/2025

Lately, I’ve been hearing the same thing from business partners who reach out about mediation.

One person is ready to talk, but the other isn’t there yet.

They know something’s off. Tension is creeping into meetings, decisions feel harder, and trust is slipping. But they can’t move forward because one person isn’t ready to sit down together.

That’s exactly why I created the Mutual Conflict Map.

It’s a guided, one-on-one process that helps you make sense of what’s really going on and create a clear map for how to lead future conversations in a more productive direction, even if the other person isn’t ready yet.

When you have clarity, you can navigate conflict with purpose instead of reacting to it.

If this sounds familiar, the Mutual Conflict Map can help you get clear and move conversations forward. Learn more here: https://resources.mutual-ground.com/mutual-conflict-map