Next Element

06/02/2026

“I used to think conflict was bad and to be avoided at all costs…”

That was Lori Walker’s response when Nate Regier asked her:

“What is one thing you thought about conflict that you don’t now?”

She went on to say that she now believes:

“Conflict is good. Only good things can come when old things are torn down.”

That’s the impact Compassionate Accountability® has had on ERMCO-ECI.

When you use conflict energy in positive ways to build connection while driving for results, that’s what you get!

Results.

Results that work better for the organization and the people.

Relationships thrive, culture is healthy, and Drama is significantly reduced.

If you’re curious to find out more about ERMCO’s journey with Compassionate Accountability, watch or listen to the full podcast episode here ⬇️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqjupKcz6bg

05/29/2026

Manufacturing environments are often seen as tough, fast-paced, and results-driven. But that doesn’t mean people stop being human when they walk onto the floor.

In our latest Compassionate Accountability® Podcast with Nate Regier, Lori Walker from ERMCO-ECI shares how one manufacturing company transformed the way their teams handle conflict, communication, and accountability, not through soft skills training that gets forgotten in a week, but through practical, effective tools people actually use.

What surprised them most?

Employees didn’t just take these skills back into the workplace. They started using them at home, in their relationships, and with their families too!

Healthy conflict isn’t just a workplace issue, it’s a human issue.

Compassionate Accountability works wherever people need to stay connected while addressing tough challenges, and this story is proof of that.

Check out our latest blog where you can watch, listen and read what was said:

https://www.next-element.com/resources/blog/how-one-manufacturing-company-changed-conflict-at-work-and-at-home/

Discover how ERMCO is transforming workplace conflict and leadership culture through Compassionate Accountability®, improving communication, trust, and accountability at work and at home.

05/27/2026

Do you want to be among the first to pilot the new Drama Resilience Team Diagnostic?!

At Association for Talent Development - ATD conference this year, one thing became very clear:

Organizations are hungry for better ways to understand what happens to teams under pressure.

They don't want surface-level communication advice or another personality profile.

They want real insight into the patterns that shape conflict, accountability, trust, and collaboration.

In this upcoming webinar, we’ll introduce the new Drama Resilience Team Diagnostic. An innovative assessment experience designed to help teams identify unhealthy conflict patterns and build stronger Compassion Skills.

We’re inviting a select group of HR leaders, L&D professionals, consultants, coaches, and team leaders to become early pilot participants and help shape the future of this work.

If you’re curious about what your team’s conflict patterns may be revealing, we’d love for you to join us.

Registration details below 👇

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/CtPkySwVT1OYpcFy-qslTw #/registration

05/26/2026

What happens when a manufacturing company decides people skills matter just as much as production goals? 🤷‍♀️

In Episode 65 of The Compassionate Accountability Podcast®, Dr. Nate Regier, sits down with Lori Walker from ERMCO-ECI to explore how one organization is transforming conflict, communication, and leadership culture across 3,400 employees.

What started as a leadership development initiative quickly became something much bigger.

Because when people learned these tools at work… they started using them at home too!

From difficult conversations and accountability to trust, innovation, and psychological safety, this episode is a powerful reminder that healthy conflict isn’t just a workplace skill, it’s a life skill.

Watch here ⬇️

https://youtu.be/ZqjupKcz6bg

In this episode of The Compassionate Accountability Podcast®, Dr. N...

05/21/2026

Drama Resilience is about Behavior Under Pressure.

Most leadership approaches focus on:

🔵Personality

🟢Communication style

🔵Intentions

But those don’t always predict what happens when conflict shows up.

Drama Resilience focuses on:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵, 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿.

And what’s better, it can be measured!

If you’re curious how Drama Resilience looks in your organisation and want to explore it further, get in touch with one of our team:

www.next-element.com/contact-us/

05/20/2026

Day 2 of Association for Talent Development - ATD Conference 2026 was epic!

Lots of people assessed their Drama Resilience and resonated with the hopeful message that conflict is inevitable but drama is optional.

We were so happy get a visit from our client, ERMCO-ECI, who is building Compassionate Accountability® as the foundation of their entire leadership development strategy.

Nate got to check in with our publisher Berrett-Koehler Publishers and discuss plans for the third edition of Conflict Without Casualties.

Thank you to everyone who has engaged with us so far and if you haven't there is still time!

Come and say hello at Booth 1223 👋

05/19/2026

Association for Talent Development - ATD Conference 2026 is in full swing!

Some of our team, Nate, Aaron and Jamie are there and they’d be happy to see you stop by our booth, 1223.

Catch Nate on stage today at 1pm for:

𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲?

We’ll look at how to measure the difference between productive and non-productive conflict, and what to do with that insight.

You’ll also get a chance to assess your own score and walk away with something practical to work on.

He’ll be onstage again tomorrow at 8am, with Karin Hurt and David Dye for:

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸: 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀

A more open, working session on why learning doesn’t always translate into behaviour, and how to change that.

Don’t forget, at our booth you can take our short survey and get your Drama Resilience Signal, the measure of how you handle conflict.

Have a great conference all!

05/15/2026

Leadership has somehow become synonymous with self-sacrifice.

Put everyone else first. Carry the pressure. Keep the peace. Absorb the stress.

But eventually, exhausted leaders stop leading well.

We believe leadership is not about putting yourself last.

It’s about recognizing that everyone in the system is equally 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲.

Healthy leadership doesn’t come from over-functioning for others.

It comes from creating the conditions where people can think, contribute, take ownership, and work through conflict productively together.

Because when leaders continually sacrifice their own wellbeing, connection and performance suffer for everyone.

Our latest blog explores why this mindset matters more than ever.

Read it here ⬇️

https://www.next-element.com/resources/blog/leadership-does-not-mean-putting-yourself-last/

05/13/2026

Conflict is inevitable in every workplace.

The difference is whether that conflict becomes productive or destructive.

Drama Resilience is the measurable capacity of individuals, teams, and organizations to handle conflict without falling into blame, avoidance, or over-functioning.

It reflects how people actually behave when pressure is high and outcomes matter, not just what they intend to do.

Drama happens when people spend energy struggling against themselves or others to justify negative behavior.

High Drama Resilience, on the other hand, creates the conditions for healthier accountability, stronger communication, greater trust, and better performance under pressure.

We know people can maintain connection even when the stakes are high! They just need to know how to do it.

What does Drama Resilience look like in your organization?

Ready to find out?

Get your Drama Resilience Signal now ⬇️

https://form.jotform.com/253435414741050?delay=No&source=website

05/12/2026

Less than 24 hours to go 👀

The next:

𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝘅: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗲𝘄 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗦𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

hosted by Nathan Regier, Ph.D. and Aaron Chappell Deckert, MSOD starts at 10am CT tomorrow (May 13th)!

In this webinar, you’ll learn why 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 is emerging as a powerful new measure of leadership effectiveness, and why it has a direct impact on:

🔵 Trust

🟢 Accountability

🔵 Communication

🟢 Performance

You’ll also have the opportunity to take a brief Drama Resilience quick assessment during the session and receive your own 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹, giving you immediate personal insight into how conflict energy may be showing up in your leadership.

This webinar is especially relevant for:

👤 Leaders

👤 HR professionals

👤 L&D leaders

👤 Executive teams

who want a clearer, more measurable way to understand and improve how conflict is functioning in their organization.

We're looking forward to seeing you there.

Registration link below ⬇️

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/XIsxUXWXTy-kqj8AMIFNCQ #/