Turning Conflict Into Collaboration: Kelsey Manne on Productive Conflict at CEO Works
At our latest CEO Works Luncheon, Kelsey Manne of Little Pineapple Collaborative reframed workplace conflict as a spectrum of opportunity—and gave leaders a practical toolkit for navigating it. Here's why you'll want to watch the full recording.
We've all sat in a meeting where something felt off and nobody said a word—and that silence quietly cost us time, money, a relationship, or a contract. Kelsey Manne built her entire talk around that moment, and the recording is full of reasons to press play.
A real, high-stakes story. Kelsey opens with a client whose well-intentioned rush led to a federal fair-competition review and a pulled subcontract—after roughly half a million dollars of work was already done. Instead of heading straight to court, her team ran a series of intentional, judgment-free conversations that healed the relationship and built lasting accountability. It's a vivid case study in what's possible when conflict is handled with care.
A reframe that makes conflict less scary. Kelsey walks through conflict as a spectrum—from differences to tensionsto disputes—each with room for innovation and trust. (She's clear that harm, harassment, and abuse sit outside this and belong with HR and legal.) Named well, differences become strengths, tensions become trust, and disputes become stronger partnerships.
Tools you can use Monday morning. You'll learn the difference between proactive, reactive, and responsive strategies, plus a standout tool drawn from A More Beautiful Question: using better questions to defuse blame. Swap "Whose fault is it?" for "How can we work together to close this?" and "What's the problem?" for "What's the ideal outcome?"
A chance to reflect on your own style. Are you the curious dog, the loud lion, the observant bird, the cautious turtle, or the joking hyena? Kelsey's self-assessment helps you understand how you show up—and how that shifts with the person, topic, and context.
The recording even includes pause-and-reflect prompts so you can practice as you watch.
Santa Cruz Works members: Kelsey is opening free 30-minute consultations to talk through a topic, a conflict, or anything on your mind. Reserve a time directly on her calendar here: https://calendly.com/kelsey-littlepineapplecollab/30min?month=2026-06
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