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Conflict Owner's Manual

we show how your conflict competencies help you do conflict better.

Our logo is a dandelion because conflict is like a weed you don't want in the garden. Since it's there you want to know how to manage it, keep it from spreading, and feel good about how you dealt with it.

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

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Conflict Owner's Manual

120 How to make your conflict a positive experience

January 25, 2026 • Dr. Deborah Sword, with co-host Tyson Bankert • Season 5 • Episode 120

Conflict can be a positive experience. It takes practice, is worth the effort, and here's a tip for how to do it.

With practice, your conflicts will feel not to hard or soft, too hot or cold. You can keep conflict in the "just right" Goldilocks zone. Conflict is positive when you use conflict competencies to Improve the quality of your relationships, learn new skills, and break unhelpful conflict patterns.

If you enjoy using fiction to practice conflict skills, check out my Substack posts because that's the motherload: https://substack.com/home/post/p-167675464

Show notes:
Other episodes that discuss popular culture to practice conflict competencies are numbers 75, 87, and 104.

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

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