Program Summary
Are your most well-meaning employees quietly undermining productivity? In the pursuit of “Midwest Nice,” many companies unknowingly allow conflict to fester, leading to passive aggression, unresolved tension, and higher turnover. This session goes beyond surface-level niceties to uncover the behavioral science behind this unique cultural dynamic. You will learn to differentiate between performative “nice” and genuinely effective”kindness” to unlock a more transparent, high-trust workplace.
Leave this session with two immediately actionable strategies to elevate your conflict resolution from a perfunctory process to a powerful business driver. By transforming a potential weakness into a source of competitive advantage, you will not only foster psychological safety but also prove your value as a strategic HR leader.
Objectives
Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to:
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Diagnose the root cause of why traditional conflict management programs fail to gain traction in Midwest corporate cultures.
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Strategically leverage the critical distinction between being “nice” and being “kind” to build a more resilient workforce.
Speaker Bio
Dr. Laura Janusik is a highly sought-after advisor to senior HR leaders, uniquely bridging the gap between communication science and strategic business outcomes. With a Ph.D. in Communication and an MBA, along with 15 years of hands-on experience in HR Management, she is an authority on leveraging strategic listening to resolve complex, culture-specific conflicts that impact productivity and retention.
As a trusted consultant, trainer, and coach, Dr. Janusik is known for translating decades of published research, cited in prestigious outlets like Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, into practical, immediately implementable strategies for high-performance teams.
Laura’s deep understanding of HR's challenges, combined with her expertise as a professor at Rockhurst University, positions her as a leader who can not only diagnose cultural pain points but also equip organizations with the skills to build more resilient, transparent, and profitable workplaces.
