logo
episode-header-image
Jan 2023
34m 11s

How to Understand the High-Conflict Pers...

Kwame Christian Esq., M.A.
About this episode

Request A Custom Workshop For Your Company


In this episode of the Negotiate Anything podcast, Dr. Ashley R. Kennard discusses how to understand and deal with high-conflict people. She provides tips on how to avoid the tendency to dehumanize the other person and offers effective ways to separate the person from the situation. This is an important episode for anyone who wants to learn how to effectively communicate with high-conflict individuals. Listen now and learn how you can improve your communication skills today!


You'll learn:

  1. Best ways to understand the high-conflict person.
  2. Separate the person from the situation.
  3. Coming to terms with the conflicting others without giving them power.

We discuss:

  1. What drives this tendency to dehumanize the other person.
  2. In-groups and out-groups.
  3. How to get out of revenge mode.



About Ashley

In the classroom, Dr. Kennard focuses on conveying the applicability of communication concepts to the real-world while challenging students to think critically about communication theories. Her teachings and research are centered on intercultural and intergroup communication, attitudes and persuasion, media effects, and health communication; particularly how each of these pertains to conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion. At OWU, Dr. Kennard teaches intercultural communication, persuasion, public speaking, conflict management, and research methods.

She has conducted research on strategic message design within the realm of crafting prosocial/health campaigns and effective interventions, and she has examined the impacts of media representations on identity. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a marketing and sales representative for a national medical equipment provider where she was tasked with developing effective ways to communicate with both doctors and patients. 

Outside of the university, Dr. Kennard likes to spend her time outdoors. In 2017, she traversed through 14 states on foot, covering the entire 2,189.8 miles of the Appalachian Trail. She also likes to read, play soccer, crochet, and spend time with her nieces and nephews.


Follow Dr. Ashley R. Kennard on LinkedIn


Ohio Wesleyan University LinkedIn page


Ohio Wesleyan University website


The Appalachian Trail website


Follow Kwame Christian on LinkedIn


The Ultimate Negotiation Guide



Click here to buy your copy of How To Have Difficult Conversations About Race!

Click here to buy your copy of Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life!



Kwame Christian and Dr. Ashley R. Kennard.

Up next
Aug 21
The Skill AI Can’t Replace — Reading the Room (Bonnie Hammer)
AI can write, edit, even cast—but it still can’t do what made TV legend Bonnie Hammer unstoppable: read the room. In this candid conversation with Kwame Christian, Bonnie unpacks the human meta‑skill behind great leadership and negotiation—reading people and context in real time— ... Show More
59m 40s
Aug 18
This #1 Marketing Expert PROVES You’re Branding All Wrong!
Most people are doing branding completely backwards — and it’s killing their results. In this powerful conversation, global CEO and marketing thought leader Giuseppe Stigliano reveals why everything you thought you knew about branding is wrong, and what to do instead. You’ll disc ... Show More
42m 55s
Aug 14
Stop Playing Nice: Make an Enemy, Build a Brand
Be nice, be invisible—brand leaders pick a strategic enemy and own the category. ⁠Buy the book The Strategic Enemy - How To Build & Position a Brand Worth Fighting For. By Laura Ries⁠ In this episode, branding strategist Laura Ries (daughter of positioning pioneer Al Ries) breaks ... Show More
52m 48s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2024
How to build safe spaces for effective communication in education and work with Dr. Teresa Peterson
Have you ever been frustrated by the feeling you're not being heard?  It's a common feeling, especially in schools and at work, and even more so when power plays a role in the relationship dynamic.  But don't worry, we've got a solution for you! In this episod ... Show More
37m 31s
Jun 2021
530: How to Prepare for Conflict, with Amy Gallo
Amy Gallo: HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict Amy Gallo is an expert in conflict, communication, and workplace dynamics. She combines the latest management research with practical advice to deliver evidence-based ideas on how to improve relationships and excel at work. She is the ... Show More
38m 32s
Sep 2023
Dr. Amy Edmondson: How to Fail Well
Join host Guy Kawasaki on Remarkable People as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Amy Edmondson, an esteemed Professor of Leadership and Management at the Harvard Business School. They explore the pivotal role leaders play in nurturing an environment conducive to ... Show More
42m 32s
Aug 2022
124. How to Say No: Boundaries with Nedra Glover Tawwab
1. Five signs that you might have a boundary problem.2. Why each of us should stop pretending we’re not a needy person.3. How to stop arguing like a lawyer – and start communicating like a kindergartener – to get what you need. 4. How to know when to end an argument, how to exit ... Show More
1h 12m
May 2019
Creating a Culture of Empathy with Dr. Emily Anhalt
To create a company culture and a working environment where employees can grow and thrive, you have to first understand how people think and interact. Dr. Emily Anhalt, our guest for today, has made a career out of teaching leaders how to understand this link. Dr. Anhalt has work ... Show More
33m 54s
Mar 2024
How to Become More Persuasive at Work
If you’re a leader, you need to know how to influence people. Maybe you’re trying to get clients to buy into your idea, trust your expertise, or sign on with your company. Or perhaps you want to convince colleagues to start a new initiative or kill one you think is doomed to fail ... Show More
34m 21s
Oct 2021
EP 38: The Unburdened Leader Roundtable Sessions: ADHD And Leadership with Tara Newman and Lindsay Padilla, PhD
If you want to lead yourself well, you have to know yourself well. The tricky thing is, it can be surprisingly hard to really know yourself. We live in a world where we are told by others–on repeat–who we should be and who we are. We have gotten so good at being who we think we a ... Show More
1h 3m
Apr 2024
136. The Art of Disagreeing Without Conflict: Navigating the Nuance
Disagreement and conflict may look the same on the surface, but the two concepts are, in fact, very different. According to Julia Minson, knowing how these notions differ is crucial to how you approach them. In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Minson and strategic communica ... Show More
25m 8s
Dec 2023
Dr. Pamela Ellis: Navigating the College Admissions Journey
In this episode of Remarkable People, join host Guy Kawasaki as he engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Dr. Pamela Ellis, also known as "The Education Doctor." Pamela has dedicated her career to helping hundreds of young people find and gain admission to the best-fit ... Show More
59m 1s