Conflict happens. What matters is how we interpret it and how we respond.

In this podcast episode, I share a powerful tool I experienced recently in training with Chloe O'Sullivan from War to Peace, that completely shifted how I think about disagreement, tension and challenging conversations.

The Spiral of Disempowerment™ offers a clear, practical framework to separate observable facts from assumptions, and to recognise the role we can play in maintaining conflict.

In global teams, where cultural dynamics shape how we interpret behaviour, this distinction becomes even more critical. We often move from facts to meaning at speed, and that interpretation drives our reactions. Those reactions then influence how others perceive us, creating a loop that is hard to break.

This episode walks you step by step through the four stages of The Spiral of Disempowerment™ and invites you to apply it to a real situation you are currently facing.

In this episode, you will learn:

• How to distinguish between observable behaviour and personal interpretation
• Why we so quickly move from fact to meaning in conflict
• How your reactions influence how others perceive you
• Why conflict escalates when we try to control what we cannot
• What is genuinely within your sphere of control
• How to pause and choose a different response

When we focus only on what others are doing and how they are acting, the spiral continues as we continue to react. When we focus on what we can control, our perception and our response, the dynamic shifts.

Reflection questions

• Where are you currently looping in a conflict situation?
• What assumptions are you treating as facts?

Download the The Spiral of Disempowerment™ tool below and apply it to a live situation.

If this episode resonates, I would genuinely love to hear what you discover. Message me on LinkedIn and share your reflections.

Resources:

• Download a template of the The Spiral of Disempowerment™ : https://halcyonglobal.co.uk/spiral-of-disempowerment/
• Learn more about Chloe O'Sullivan's work, War to Peace: https://halcyonglobal.co.uk/
• Buy my book, Become a Global Leader:https://culturecuppa.com/book/
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson

In this podcast episode, I'm joined by Lucy Butters, a Master Facilitator with the Cultural Intelligence Centre, a CQ Fellow- an elite CQ certification, and the author of the recently published 'Cultural Intelligence in Practi

Lucy shares why adaptation and self-awareness matter as much as what you know. We talk about listening as a core leadership skill, how identity and culture shape who gets heard, and why silence, pace and the way we respond all carry meaning. Plus, why the rapid growth of AI makes Cultural Intelligence more important, not less.

Lucy Butters has been working to support organisations to be more inclusive and internationally effective since founding her training and coaching company Elembee Ltd in 2010. A CIPD qualified trainer, one of Lucy's passions is working with trainers and facilitators to develop and enhance their training CQ capability. Lucy lives in Glasgow with her husband and as parents of triplet sons, they are frequently reminded of the need to adjust thinking, actions and expectations.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Cultural Intelligence really means and how it differs from cultural awareness
• Why knowledge alone does not lead to effective cross-cultural working
• The four capabilities of Cultural Intelligence and how they work together as a core leadership skill
• Why listening is culturally shaped
• How communication styles, silence and pace affect understanding
• Why AI requires stronger human judgement and Cultural Intelligence
• How Cultural Intelligence supports leadership in times of uncertainty

If you want to deepen your understanding, Lucy's book offers practical insights from experts around the world.

Resources:

• Connect with Lucy Butters on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/lucybutters
• Visit Lucy Butters' website: https://lucybutters.com/
• Buy my book, Become a Global Leader:https://culturecuppa.com/book/
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, ideas, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson

Hidden influence - why it is often the missing piece when projects stall, decisions loop and stakeholder meetings go nowhere.

This latest podcast episode was prompted by real conversations with clients who were doing all the right things in theory- scheduling update meetings, sharing information, seeking decisions, yet progress kept slowing down.

What sat underneath was a lack of strategic influence beyond the meeting room. Hidden influence is not about doing things covertly or politically. At its core, it is about connection, trust and understanding what really drives decision-making before you ever ask for a 'yes'.

I break down how to identify who truly influences outcomes, how to build the right relationships early, and how slowing down at the start can help you move faster later on.

You'll learn:

• What hidden influence is, and what it is not
• Why your meetings alone rarely unlock decisions
• How to map your Influence Matrix
• Who your hidden influencers are beyond the organisation chart
• The key questions to ask yourself before alignment meetings
• How risk preferences shape decisions- tapping into Cultural Intelligence
• Developing a tailored communication plan to tap into hidden influence

Key reflection questions:

• Who sits in your Influence Matrix beyond your direct stakeholders?
• Where are your hidden influence opportunities right now?
• Which relationships need more intentional attention?

If you want to go deeper into the topic of influence, this is explored in more detail in my book Become a Global Leader, including the Influence Matrix and my Six Frames of Influence.

Resources:

• Buy my book, Become a Global Leader:https://culturecuppa.com/book/
• Follow me on LinkedIn for more strategies, ideas, skills and tips: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-rennoldson