Have you ever received feedback that felt unclear—or just hard to hear? Or do you struggle to give feedback when it feels difficult? Join Jay and Jeff as they continue their communication series with practical advice on how to make feedback work for you, whether you’re giving it or receiving it. Through career stories, lessons learned, and proven methods, they’ll share how to give feedback that helps others—and receive it in a way that helps you grow. This critical skill can make or break relationships.

In this episode of The Early Edge, Jay and Jeff are joined by Stephanie Polen, President of The Polen Group, for a thoughtful conversation on navigating conflict. Stephanie introduces a practical framework to help you better understand how both you and others tend to respond to conflict. She also shares a proven tool that leaders and teams can use to manage it more effectively. Whether you’re leading others or developing your own self-awareness, this episode offers insights to help you approach conflict with greater confidence and clarity.

Jay and Jeff welcome Madeline Westfall to discuss her creative path to starting a business. Madeline shares valuable lessons about creating your own path, surrounding yourself with the right people, and taking the first step—even when you don’t have it all figured out. Her story offers practical encouragement for anyone navigating the early stages of their career.