072: How Leaders Turn Tension Into Trust

In this episode, Elena Armijo welcomes Hillary Hittner, executive coach, mediator, and close collaborator at The C-Suite Collective, for a rich conversation on conflict, creativity, and the human work of staying present when tension enters the room. With a background in theater, DEI, inclusive leadership, and mediation, Hillary brings a deeply attuned lens to what conflict reveals beneath the surface. Check out Elena's website to learn more about how she can support you in seeing and using the power that resides within you. Elena opens with a coaching reflection on the conflict leaders keep avoiding and what it may be trying to reveal. She reframes conflict as data rather than a verdict, inviting leaders to notice tension as a signal instead of proof that something has gone wrong. She also names the cost of performative alignment, the quiet danger of absence in hard conversations, and the importance of creating space between activation and response. Hillary shares how her early work in theater shaped her ability to listen creatively and notice the emotional architecture of a room. She describes conflict as a tool, a marker, and a flag that helps leaders identify what needs attention. Drawing from her mediation practice, she offers practical ways to slow down, including naming the shared landscape, identifying feelings and needs, and making clear requests. The conversation moves into how conflict avoidance shows up in teams, from false agreement to silence, peacekeeping, and agitation. Hillary and Elena reflect on the possibility of using tension as a source of growth, trust, and belonging, not only inside organizations, but in families, communities, and daily life. This conversation is an invitation to stop smoothing over tension and begin listening to it with curiosity, dignity, and care.   Let's Get Social!  Want to hear more from Elena? Click here! Learn more about The C-Suite Collective Connect with Elena on LinkedIn Schedule a complimentary session: Click here   Hillary Hittner: LinkedIn  |  Website     This podcast was produced by the following amazing team: Ulrich Wolvaardt, Audio Engineer Aaron Boykin, Musician & Artist (Get updates about Aaron's music via Instagram) Jo van Eeden, Project Manager