How To Handle Disagreements At Work with Justin Jones-Fosu

What happens when the future of work demands not just new skills—but new muscles for conflict, tension, and trust? What if your ability to disagree well is what sets you apart in an AI-powered world? How should you handle disagreements at work?

In this episode of The Future of Less Work, host Nirit Cohen sits down with Justin Jones-Fosu, CEO of Work. Meaningful. and author of I Respectfully Disagree, to explore how respectful disagreement is emerging as a core leadership skill.

Together, they unpack why “culture fit” may be an outdated hiring filter, how over-agreeable teams erode trust, and why emotional safety matters more than ever in hybrid and remote settings. Justin introduces his Five Pillars of Disagreement Intelligence, shares the Heart.Head.Hand. model for conversations that connect, and explains why AI will only make the human skills harder—and more necessary.

You’ll hear how inclusive design helped shape his thinking, how working across cultures challenges assumptions, and why boundaries are different from barriers when it comes to building workplace belonging.

If you’ve ever struggled to speak up, lead hard conversations, or disagree without disengaging—this episode is your guide to building a more courageous, human, and future-ready workplace.

Want to dive deeper into this topic? Read Nirit’s Forbes article, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"⁠⁠⁠⁠One In Three Employees Would Rather Clean A Toilet Than Ask For Help⁠", to explore these ideas further.  

https://youtu.be/EL8hvdcrIPQ

Guest Information:

Justin Jones-Fosu brings energy everywhere—whether scaling one of the famed 7 Summits, dancing with his wife, or chasing after his four turbocharged kids. But his real passion? Elevating workplaces, one keynote, one training, and one course at a time.

As the CEO of Work. Meaningful. Justin delivers 50+ keynotes a year, helping organizations climb higher with enchanting employee experience through meaningful engagement, belonging, and leadership that actually sticks.

An author and workplace researcher, he’s written Your WHY Matters NOW, The Inclusive Mindset, and his latest, I Respectfully Disagree, a guide to navigating tough conversations in a divided world.

With humor, insight, and research-backed wisdom, Justin doesn’t just speak—he creates experiences that leave participants not just informed but transformed.

Chapters:

00:00 – Why is disagreement essential in the workplace?
02:40 – What is disrespectful agreement?
05:00 – How should leaders handle team tension?
08:51 – What are the Five Pillars of Respectful Disagreement?
11:20 – How can we build disagreement skills before conflict happens?
12:45 – What is the Circles of Grace Challenge?
13:45 – Why does hiring for culture fit limit inclusion?
15:15 – How can disagreement lead to innovation?
16:00 – What is the Heart. Head. Hand.™ model?
18:15 – Why human stories matter more than ever
19:40 – What leadership skills will AI never replace?
21:55 – Can AI simulate empathy and curiosity?
23:45 – What is double Dutch communication—and how do we fix it?
25:15 – Can disagreement actually build belonging?
26:34 – What question should we ask about meaning at work?