In her TEDx talk, Jessica Connor Kennedy explores three impactful ways to connect during a conflict. Kennedy begins by emphasizing the importance of active listening during disagreements. Rather than solely focusing on getting your own point across, she encourages individuals to truly listen to the other person’s perspective, validating their feelings and building empathy.
Secondly, Kennedy delves into the significance of vulnerability in conflict resolution. By being open and honest about one’s own emotions and insecurities, it allows for a deeper level of communication and understanding between both parties involved in the conflict.
Lastly, Kennedy highlights the power of finding common ground with the other person. By identifying shared values or goals, individuals can work together towards a solution that benefits both parties.
Overall, Kennedy’s message is clear: in order to truly connect during a conflict, it requires active listening, vulnerability, and a willingness to find common ground. By implementing these strategies, individuals can navigate disagreements with grace and understanding.
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Author Video Description
The Japanese martial art of Aikido offers much more than just physical training – it’s a powerful philosophy for shaping leadership, building collaboration and navigating conflict. What if we could apply its principles to our personal interactions and business negotiations, in order to foster harmony and innovation? Drawing from her experiences establishing the Travelling Dojo and practising Aikido around the world, Jessica Connor Kennedy shows us how to transform resistance and disharmony into genuine connection, in order to create stronger individuals and healthier organisations. Jessica Connor Kennedy, founder of The Travelling Dojo, began practising the Japanese martial art aikido in 2015. Aikido was developed with a principled purpose; to resolve conflict without physical or emotional violence. Jessica has studied with aikido masters on four continents and helped those with no aikido training safely and constructively handle emotionally charged interactions.
With over 20 years of professional experiences as a facilitator, Jessica’s aikido practice has increased her ability to lead individuals and groups through conflict and grief to generative discussion and powerful connection.
Her work spans regenerative organisational design, crisis response, stakeholder engagement and spiritual health. She is an advocate for experiential learning and, as a scientist and teacher, recognises that goals deeply important to society such as connection and diversity can’t be taught through words alone, rather that the body needs to be involved in the learning process. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “3 ways to connect during a conflict | Jessica Connor Kennedy | TEDxBells Beach” was uploaded on 03/17/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks