Dare to be Great: Embracing Conflict with Dawn Shumway
Written by Castmagic (Virtual Assistant)
Edited by WTM
In a recent illuminating session, Dawn Shumway, a keynote speaker with an energizing presence and impactful stories, delivered a stirring presentation titled "There’s No Success Without Conflict” for the virtual event, Dare to be Great 5. The session, introduced by host Ricardo, was not just another leadership seminar—it was a deep dive into the notion that to achieve greatness, one must not only anticipate but embrace conflict.
Dawn's discourse commenced with an anecdote that many can sympathize with—a laptop disaster involving soda right before a crucial presentation. However, instead of allowing this incident to derail her spirit, she used it to accentuate her mantra: "There's no success without conflict." This philosophy forms the bedrock of her belief system, both professionally and personally.
At the heart of Dawn’s address was the conviction that conflict should not be avoided but rather seen as a necessary component of growth. She wittily suggested that feeling comfortable with conflict is akin to teaching children gymnastics—not for them to become gymnasts per se, but to teach them how to fall without getting hurt. Similarly, Dawn argues that we need to learn to fall into and out of conflict in a way that makes us resilient and ready for the next challenge.
Throughout her talk, Dawn eloquently delivered a powerful message about harnessing the positive aspects of conflict. She eloquently differentiated between constructive and destructive disagreements and recommended Mark Manson's book, "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck," to buttress her point on focusing on what truly matters.
But Dawn’s stories went deeper than professional mishaps and spilled beverages. She courageously shared a very personal narrative of domestic violence that led to the loss of family members. This heart-wrenching story transitioned into another battle involving the placement of her father's name on a headstone—a discourse on whether his name deserved to stand next to theirs. Dawn's unyielding position that this was a fight worth having underscored the evening’s theme that not all conflicts should be shunned, and some are essential for justices’ sake.
Dawn’s emphasis was clear: short-term comfort can lead to long-term consequences. Avoiding conflict may feel like the easier choice, akin to slapping a band-aid on a bleeding artery, but it ultimately doesn't address the underlying issue. She argued for the necessity of facing those small daily conflicts head-on, to prevent the build-up of more significant, more daunting confrontations.
In the spirit of teaching conflict resolution, Dawn mentioned a conflict management class that taught phrases to aid in bitter conversations. Phrases, she claimed, are simple yet immensely powerful for navigating treacherous interpersonal territories. She championed owning one's seat at the table, and not backing down from conversations that manifest colorful and differing viewpoints.
Beyond conflict management, Dawn dug into the fertile soil of self-worth by recommending "Just a Kid" and "You Are Special" by Max Lucado, which delve into issues exacerbated by social media's influence on perception and popularity. She made a call to action, urging viewers to examine their core beliefs and to be vigilant against tying self-worth to external validations.
No discussion of conflict would be complete without a mention of communication strategies, and Dawn offered practical advice here, too. Taking cues from experts like Jefferson Fisher and Cole Jennett, she recommended the use of strategic word swaps and the potency of softening words in conflict-laden scenarios. An ingenious method she shared was Fisher's approach of mirroring divisive language in a placid tone when faced with belittlement, championing "yes ands" as opposed to "yes buts" to keep conversations open and moving forward.
Moreover, she addressed the sometimes abrupt nature of our speech patterns, advising to excise the word "why" from our questioning, thereby softening the intensity and opening the floor to less defensive exchanges. Dawn's encompassing session ventured into feedback delivery and receipt, stressing its crucial role in enhancing our communication and connections.
As a testament to her theory, she narrated an incident that underlined the necessity for clear feedback. To this end, she recommended a receptive attitude toward feedback, whether doling it out or on the receiving end. This, she contended, is fundamental to not only personal advancement but the betterment of collective endeavors.
Dawn's recommendations didn't stop at words and feedback; she championed managing emotions in communication as well. Emotional intelligence, she suggested, is key—and if the emotions are too high, "tabling the conversation" can be an appropriate decision until all parties can come to terms with those emotions and resume dialogues constructively.
By culminating her talk with a practical application—a real-world example—of how to handle a passionate discussion in the workplace, Dawn not only illustrated her principles but anchored them to reality. Here was an actionable roadmap for anyone tuning in: whether in a professional setting, amidst a tough family dispute, or in a personal journey of self-discovery and confrontation.
For those inspired by Dawn's insights, she welcomed further connectivity through the community platform, recommending interaction with her and other speakers to enrich the conversation. And indeed, the session ended on that high note, with Ricardo elegantly summing up the event and hinting at more to come, including Cindy Sparrow's session on navigating conflict confidently—an apt continuation of the wisdom imparted by Dawn.
In a session that unraveled layers of personal growth, communication strategies, and conflict resolution, Dawn Shumway’s “There’s No Success Without Conflict” Keynote was as inspiring as it was instructive. Attendees of Dare to be Great 5 left with a greater understanding that conflict can be a catalyst for growth, that greatness is borne from the fires of challenge, and that to dare to be great is to dare to confront, learn, and evolve.
About Keynote speaker Dawn Shumway
Dawn is currently a 911 public safety manager with Ada County Sheriff's Office in Idaho. She recently moved here from Utah and spent 18 years as a 911 dispatcher and truly loves what she does. Dawn also teaches with the Denise Amber Lee Foundation. She is passionate about suicide prevention and helping 911 centers everywhere in anyway she can. In her time off she loves diet Dr Pepper and going on hikes in hidden areas; and loves taking adventures with her kidlets and husband.
Watch the entire presentation below