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Beyond "Public Media Nice": Tackling Conflict Competence at PMDMC


Conference room with people seated at round tables, listening to a speaker presenting slides. Bright room, blue tablecloths, attentive mood.

When Joyedele Consulting's founder, Judy Oyedele, joined forces with Sabine Marx, a senior consultant with Brevity & Wit, at the 2024 Public Media Development and Marketing Conference (PMDMC) in San Diego, they addressed a challenge many organizations face but few discuss openly. Their workshop "Conflict Competence in People-Pleasing Cultures" drew a standing-room-only crowd, highlighting just how deeply this topic resonates within public media organizations.


The session challenged the long-standing tradition of "Public Media Nice" – a culture where maintaining harmony often takes precedence over having necessary difficult conversations. Through a dynamic mix of presentation, group discussion, and individual reflection, participants explored how this emphasis on being "nice" can actually undermine efforts to create truly inclusive and innovative organizational cultures.


Key insights from the session included:

  • The hidden costs of people-pleasing behaviors in organizational culture

  • How conflict avoidance impacts diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts

  • Practical strategies for building conflict competence while maintaining authenticity

  • Actionable steps for creating psychological safety in teams


"This was a very thoughtful and applicable session," shared one participant. "It covered reasons, solutions, and applications. I found it very insightful and valuable." Another attendee described the session as "mind-blowing," highlighting the transformative potential of reframing conflict as a tool for positive change rather than a threat to workplace harmony.


The workshop's success – evidenced by its 4.5/5 rating and enthusiastic participant feedback – reinforces Joyedele Consulting's commitment to helping organizations move beyond surface-level niceness to create genuinely inclusive environments where innovation can flourish.


Want to learn more about building conflict competence in your organization? Start by reading our article "Conflict Competence: How to Move Beyond Public Media Nice". Ready to put these ideas into action with your team? Contact us to explore how we can support your organization's journey toward true conflict competence.

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