Conflict is inevitable in business, leadership, and even networking groups — but how you handle it determines the success of your relationships and your organization. In this episode of the BNI San Diego Podcast, Executive Director Ed Wilson sits down with Alex Peterson-Cross, Vice President of the BNI Pinnacle chapter and a State Farm agency owner, to explore one of the most important leadership skills in business: conflict resolution. From managing workplace disagreements to navigating misunderstandings in referral partnerships, this conversation dives deep into how leaders can resolve conflict while maintaining trust, professionalism, and long-term business relationships. Alex shares insights from his experience in corporate leadership with Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, while Ed brings perspective from years working directly with BNI founder Dr. Ivan Misner and helping resolve conflicts across thousands of BNI chapters worldwide. If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, BNI member, or leader, this episode will help you approach difficult conversations with confidence and emotional intelligence. 🔑 In This Episode You’ll Learn ✅ Why conflict is unavoidable when people work together ✅ The difference between avoiding conflict vs resolving it effectively ✅ How emotional intelligence impacts business relationships ✅ Why many leaders struggle with difficult conversations ✅ The BNI process for resolving disputes inside a chapter ✅ How to create a safe environment for honest conversations ✅ Why people involved in conflict often just want to be heard and understood ✅ The leadership mindset required to resolve issues while preserving relationships As Ed explains in the episode, many conflicts stem from simple misunderstandings or miscommunication, and the key is guiding people toward resolution while ensuring everyone feels heard. 📘 Resource Mentioned in This Episode Crucial Conversations – A powerful framework for navigating high-stakes conversations and resolving conflict in business and leadership. 🌎 About BNI BNI (Business Network International) is the world’s largest professional networking organization, helping entrepreneurs and small businesses generate billions of dollars in referrals through relationship-based networking and the philosophy of Givers Gain®. If you enjoyed this episode: • Like the video • Subscribe for more BNI leadership insights • Share this with a fellow entrepreneur or networking partner Have a topic you’d like us to highlight? Please share with us via email at [email protected]. Visit us online: https://bnisd.comBNI is the world's most successful organization of its type in the world. Members pass millions of referrals which translates to billions of dollars in business.BNI San Diego(619) 255-2620Visit a chapter: https://bnisd.com/en-US/findachapter

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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