In a world where speaking up can often feel futile, where justice and fairness seem elusive, and where workplace conflicts can leave us feeling unheard, it’s easy for many conflicts to go unresolved. Finding a neutral party that will lend an ear and unearth the truth without being swayed by the biases and preconceptions ingrained in our society may seem like an impossible feat. With over 25 years of experience investigating and mediating disputes, Dean Bernard has seen what happens when people are silenced by fear. As a Conflict Strategist and CEO of Bernard and Associates, he deeply understands that honesty, integrity, and fairness must be the pillar of any workplace investigation for people to be willing to open up. On this episode of The Workplace Communication Podcast, Dean shares valuable insights on the most crucial aspects of any investigative process, choosing a neutral investigator, adopting a trauma-informed approach, addressing employee curiosity, and more. Join us as we delve into Dean's methodology, where he emphasizes the power of listening, understanding, and maintaining an open mind to navigate the complex world of workplace investigations. Leadership tips you won’t want to miss: 🎙️ How to choose an investigator who leads with neutrality 🎙️ Leaving behind traditional assumptions for a trauma-informed investigation 🎙️ Dealing with the curiosity of employees who aren’t involved in the conflict 🎙️ Nurturing a culture of open communication in the workplace to resolve conflicts effectively 🎙️ Practicing active listening and empathy skills to better navigate conflicts Dean Benard is a conflict strategist with over 25 years of experience investigating and mediating disputes. Starting his career in nursing and later transitioning to policing, Dean ultimately found his calling in investigative work. His firm, Bernard and Associates, specializes in workplace investigations, striving to provide impartiality and neutrality throughout the process.   If you’re looking to enhance your understanding of integrity and neutrality in workplace investigations, then this episode is for you! If you’ve enjoyed this episode, please be sure to subscribe and leave a review.  🎧 Listen to the episode here: https://lindsaylapaquette.com/podcast/ For a full written transcript of the episode, please see the show notes at the link above. Dean Benard’s contact information: Website LinkedIn YouTube Facebook Twitter Lindsay’s contact information: To book a discovery call E-mail Website Free e-course: Free Yourself from Workplace Confrontation and Conflict LinkedIn Previous podcast episodes