In this episode of the NEGOTIATEx podcast, Don Rossmoore, a distinguished author and organizational consultant, explores the intricacies of team communication. He emphasizes the challenges of defensiveness and miscommunication within organizations and introduces an attuned, meditative approach to listening. Drawing from personal anecdotes and his expertise, Rossmoore elaborates on balancing advocacy with empathy, maximizing meeting productivity, and addressing interruptions tactfully. The podcast dives deep into the barriers defensiveness poses to peak team performance and offers techniques to break them down. Central to Rossmoore’s guidance is the interplay of clarity, tone, self-awareness, trust, and compassion in fostering genuine dialogue.