Conflict Resolution Mastery: From Hostage Negotiator to Leadership Coach - Ryan Dunlap

Conflict Resolution Mastery: From Hostage Negotiator to Leadership Coach - Ryan Dunlap What if the skills used to defuse hostage situations could transform your most challenging workplace conversations? Join Bridget Johnson as she sits down with Ryan Dunlap, a former SWAT hostage negotiator turned conflict management expert, who reveals how high-stakes communication principles can revolutionize leadership in educational settings. Ryan's remarkable journey from law enforcement through ministry to becoming an internationally recognized conflict coach offers unique insights into managing pressure, building instant trust, and navigating emotionally charged conversations. As founder of Conflict-ish and creator of The Real Tact Model® used by organizations like Chick-fil-A and Yale, Ryan shares practical frameworks that help leaders move from reactive responses to strategic relationship building. This conversation tackles the real challenges educational leaders face daily - from difficult parent conversations to managing consistently negative team members. Ryan reveals why facts don't resolve feelings, how to be right and wrong simultaneously, and the critical difference between communicating with care versus communicating carefully. In this episode, you'll learn: How to build instant trust and rapport in high-pressure situations without pre-existing relationships The three unconscious questions every person asks when meeting someone new and how to address them Why validating emotions must come before presenting facts in any difficult conversation How to recognize when you're doing the right thing the wrong way and pivot gracefully Practical strategies for managing team members who consistently bring negative energy to workplace dynamics Featured Guest: Ryan Dunlap combines over 20 years of experience in law enforcement, ministry, and executive leadership as founder and Chief Conflict Officer at Conflict-ish. He holds an M.S. in Communication and Leadership from Purdue University and brings over 3,600 hours of specialized training including FBI Interviews & Interrogations and SWAT operations. His background as an SVU Detective, SWAT hostage negotiator, and crisis intervention officer provides unique insights into pressure management and strategic communication. Ryan serves as co-faculty at the University at Buffalo School of Management and expert advisor to state governments including the Georgia Sexual Assault Response Team and Tennessee Human Trafficking Advisory Council. Recommended Resources: • The Art of Tact 60-day training program  • The Real Tact Model® conflict management framework  • "How to Untie a Balloon" book Visit the Deans' Roundtable: https://deansroundtable.org Check out the Deans' Roundtable Community: https://bit.ly/drt-community-profile LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bridget-johnson510/ Email: [email protected] The Dean's Roundtable: Where student life professionals connect, learn, share, and grow together.