The Lost Art of Restoring Trust, Resolving Conflict, and Emotional Intelligence – Greg Stephens: Ep #547

If you’ve ever avoided conflict or struggled to express yourself in high-stakes conversations, this episode is your wake-up call. Greg Stephens, executive coach, author, and founder of Alignment Resources, joins David to discuss why so many leaders unknowingly limit their influence, connection, and freedom—because they’ve never been taught how to have the right conversations. Greg believes that conflict isn’t a threat—it’s the doorway to transformation.

Drawing from decades of experience in Crucial Conversations facilitation, leadership development, and personal restoration, Greg reveals how mastering communication and emotional intelligence can heal fractured relationships, elevate leadership presence, and restore peace of mind. Whether you’re navigating friction with your spouse, your team, or even yourself, this conversation offers actionable insights for building deeper, more resilient connections—starting with radical personal ownership.

Minute Markers:

00:00 – Intro
04:56 – Apprenticing in coaching and the impact of Crucial Conversations
07:28 – Completing 36 unresolved relationships in 2.5 years
10:14 – Why most executives lack emotional intelligence
12:52 – Why one-off seminars fail and real transformation requires support
14:47 – Greg’s early struggles with victimhood and personal accountability
18:38 – Divorce, resolution, and restoring relationships with grace
25:17 – Courage, vulnerability, and the myth of weakness in leadership
30:16 – Why difficult conversations are worth it
32:01 – The power of small, safe cohorts for transformation
33:36 – Masterclasses vs. masterminds
36:46 – Why high achievers need advanced relationship training too
41:07 – Final book recommendations for next-level growth

If you like this episode, here are more episodes we think you’ll enjoy:

Ep #544 – Tony Rubleski – Leadership Reimagined: Why Human Connection Still Wins
Ep #540 – Dr. Jerry Gray – Break Free From the Hamster Wheel By Redefining Leadership, Coaching and Legacy

Links Featured on the Show:

#gregstephens #crucialconversations #emotionalintelligence #conflictresolution #leadershipcommunication

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