Playbook
Communication, Conflict, and Scaling What Works
Leaders eliminate confusion with three tools: turn team conflicts into quick experiments, protect quality during rapid growth with one-page process docs, and write every message to trigger one clear action.
1) Writing that actually moves decisions
Leaders do not need more words. They need clarity that matches the reader’s priorities and makes the next action obvious.
Christopher’s approach in brief:
Start from the stakeholder’s desired outcome, not the sender’s update.
Use short, front-loaded sentences that answer “what, why, now what.”
Close with a single decision or action, not a buffet of options.
Further reading featuring Christopher: “How Do Successful Leaders Craft Compelling Written Business Communication?”
Try this this week
Rewrite one important email using this simple frame: Situation → Impact → Decision requested.
Replace adjectives with numbers or examples.
Ask one trusted peer to rate your message on “I know what to do next” out of 10.
Signal it worked: faster replies, fewer clarification loops, decisions captured in writing.
2) Conflict that strengthens the team instead of splitting it
When smart people disagree, it is a feature, not a bug. Christopher’s playbook treats conflict as a structured conversation that reveals the real constraint.
Christopher’s approach in brief:
Create a safe room. Everyone voices their perspective and wins.
Name the shared goal before debating tactics.
Co-design a small test that gives both sides data within two weeks.
Further reading featuring Christopher: “Addressing Employee Concerns: Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies”
Try this this week
For one active conflict, schedule a 30-minute “two-truths” session. Each side gets 5 minutes uninterrupted to state facts and constraints.
Agree on a single success metric you both accept.
Design a 14-day pilot that tests the riskiest assumption.
Signal it worked: less triangulation, a clear owner for the experiment, and a written follow-up that names decisions and next checkpoints.
3) Scaling without losing the plot
Rapid growth breaks what used to work. Christopher focuses on light, repeatable standards that protect quality while keeping teams fast.
Christopher’s approach in brief:
Standardize only what touches the customer or controls risk.
Use “minimum viable procedure” docs: 1 page, who does what, when, and how we know it was done.
Train new hires with checklists and short videos, then shadow once, solo once, certify.
Further reading featuring Christopher: “16 Strategies to Maintain Operational Efficiency During Rapid Growth”
Try this this week
Pick one customer-critical workflow and write the 1-page version.
Add a 3-item quality bar everyone signs off on.
Create a 10-minute loom walkthrough and pin it where work happens.
Signal it worked: onboarding time down, fewer re-work pings, NPS steadier during spikes.
4) Assessments, used like instruments not astrology
Tools like 360s, Hogan, MBTI, or CliftonStrengths help when they inform decisions about roles, communication, and growth plans. They distract when they become labels.
Christopher’s approach in brief:
Choose assessments that map to a business decision you actually face.
Share results in 1 slide: strengths to leverage, watch-outs, and one commitment.
Revisit during moments that matter, like role changes or new teams.
Try this this week
Pick one team with a real mandate. Use a focused 360 or existing data to align on 2 strengths to amplify and 1 friction to remove in the next sprint.
Case snapshot
A mid-market leadership team was stuck between speed and quality. Christopher reframed the debate as a shared goal: “ship reliably at a 2-week cadence.” They piloted a checklist plus a 15-minute weekly “defect review.” Within 6 weeks, re-work dropped and stakeholders reported “clearer updates, fewer surprises.”
About Christopher Salem
Christopher is a Business Executive Coach and Certified Workplace Strategist. He works with senior leaders on communication that lands, conflict that builds trust, and operating rhythms that scale.
Focus areas: executive communication, conflict resolution, operational consistency
Formats: executive coaching, team facilitation, leadership workshops
Work with Christopher
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Source notes
This article references appearances featuring Christopher Salem:
Lightkey: “How Do Successful Leaders Craft Compelling Written Business Communication?”
CEO Official Mag: “Addressing Employee Concerns: Conflict Resolution Strategies”
COO Insider: “Operational Efficiency During Rapid Growth”
We summarize and link to those sources rather than reposting them. If any link changes, we will update this page.