Ops Cast The Hidden Skill Behind Great Ops Leaders: Learning to Love Conflict with Anna Lecat
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Conflict is part of every operation's role, but most people avoid it. However, the best operators learn how to use it to their advantage.
In this episode of Ops Cast, Michael Hartmann sits down with Anna Lecat, CEO and Founder of Bridging Global and author of the upcoming book Loving Conflict, to explore why conflict is not something to eliminate, but something to understand and navigate.
If you work in Marketing Ops, RevOps, or any cross-functional role, you are constantly operating between teams with different priorities, incentives, and perspectives. The question from this conversation is whether you avoid it or learn how to work through it effectively.
Anna brings more than 25 years of experience leading multicultural teams and working across global organizations. She shares practical ways to reframe conflict, build trust, and turn difficult conversations into productive outcomes.
Topics covered include
• Why conflict naturally shows up in operations roles
• The concept of “loving conflict” and what it actually means in practice
• How different teams operate with different “languages” and priorities
• Why people feel stuck in the middle and how to shift that mindset
• How to prepare for difficult conversations with stakeholders or leadership
• Common mistakes that escalate conflict instead of resolving it
• How strong operators and leaders handle tension differently
This episode is not about frameworks or tools. It is one of the most overlooked skills in operations, the ability to solve conflict in a way that builds alignment rather than breaks it.
Loving Conflict by Anna Lecat
If this conversation feels relatable, Anna’s book goes deeper into the ideas discussed in this episode. This offers a practical framework for turning tension into trust, alignment, and stronger relationships across teams. Here's the link to buy the Loving Conflict: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1966629974
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