Case Study
Unilever: Turning Conflict Into Connection
A cohort of senior Unilever procurement professionals joined our programme to elevate their ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, navigate conflict and communicate with impact – all essential for working in cross-functional, global networks.
100
Participants reporting being better equipped for handling conflict and making connections.
25
Boost in team confidence from before the programme
4.7
Coach Ratings
94
Participants wanting further training
The Challenge
With their experience, the team were naturally strong communicators. Many described themselves as clear, concise, and empathetic, often combining warmth with strategic insight.
Even so, they faced challenges in high-pressure situations. Participants struggled giving tough feedback, saying no to senior stakeholders, and making their voices heard in hierarchical or fast-paced environments.
Their goals were to become more assertive without sounding aggressive, stay calm under pressure, and become influential communicators. The teams confidence in these areas was low, averaging just 6.4 out of 10 before the workshop.
The Solution
Through our Genuine Connections workshops, we introduced practical tools like Three Level Listening: listening with the ego, listening with the mind, and listening with the body. This gave the team a framework to gain insights and connect with previously distant stakeholders.
Their coaches, Cat and Mark, created a space where participants could safely explore new techniques designed for virtual delivery. This helped them build authentic confidence in real time.
In the Navigating Conflict sessions, the team moved into higher-stakes territory. They learned techniques based on our Five Perspectives. This a framework that turns fight or flight disagreements into collaborative discussion for feedback sessions and emotionally loaded moments.
The coaching helped shift instinctive reactions to intentional responses, giving participants tools to regulate, reframe, and respond with confidence during discord.
Areas of Focus
COAST
OARpology
Three Level Listening
Five Perspectives
COAST
OARpology
Three Level Listening
Five Perspectives
The Result
Across both sessions, the Unilever team stepped into more grounded, intentional communication. Whether they were building rapport or navigating challenge, participants left with language, structure, and clarity they could apply immediately.
Many spoke about real change, noticing new awareness in how they listen and respond and feeling more in control when conversations became challenging.
The coaching was rated 4.9 out of 5. One participant described the session as “transformative,” while others called it “insightful,” “calm and clear,” and “genuinely useful.”
Following a 94% interest in further training, Unilever will be continuing their communication journey with us in 2026 in a new batch of programmes.
It was a great experience to be part of this course! Through the practice of each one of the techniques, I had the chance to get a clear understanding of them and how I can use them in my future interactions!
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Shree Thakker
Head of Sales
