Loving Conflict
Creating Collaboration Where Others See Division
by Anna Lecat
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Pub Date Mar 31 2026 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
Right now, our world can feel more divided than ever. Families don't speak to each other. Teams walk on eggshells. Communities are fractured.
We've been taught that conflict is bad. Avoid it. Be nice to each other. But avoiding conflict doesn't keep us close—it pulls us apart. Every conversation we don't have is a connection we've already lost.
After more than twenty-five years building businesses across Ukraine, China, the United States, and France, Anna Lecat discovered something unexpected: the people who thrive don't avoid conflict. They move through it with curiosity and care. Their teams collaborate. Their families stay close. Their communities build together.
In Loving Conflict, Lecat reveals how conflict transforms from threat to opportunity when approached with five practical principles. Drawing from her experiences of learning to listen deeply while finding belonging in China; challenging tango traditions in Buenos Aires; and facilitating retreats and workshops across Asia, Europe, and North America, she shows what becomes possible when we stop running from difficult conversations. You'll learn to stay present when everything in you wants to run. To get curious when you're certain you're right. To create collaboration where others see only division.
Maybe you're thinking, "This sounds exhausting. I hate conflict." Lecat would tell you: You're exactly who this book is for. Because conflict isn't something to tolerate or manage skillfully. It's something you can learn to practice, master, and even love.
Not because it becomes easy. Because what emerges on the other side—real collaboration, genuine understanding—is worth the discomfort. Anna Lecat is an international entrepreneur, Intimacy & Conflict Consultant, and global speaker who helps leaders and teams transform tension into trust. Fluent in Mandarin and a passionate tango dancer who leads as often as she follows, she lives in France with her family and facilitates workshops worldwide.
Advance Praise
Praise for Loving Conflict “Loving Conflict conveys Anna’s conviction that conflict, much like tango, approached with hope and compassion sparks stronger, more empathetic leadership.” —Jesus de la Garza, founder and creator, Monarch Leaders; Nuevo León, Mexico
“Building stakeholder-centered organizations requires something most leaders haven’t been taught: the ability to hold space for competing interests without collapsing into compromise. Anna Lecat’s five principles give leaders practical tools to navigate these tensions with presence and purpose. Loving Conflict is the missing manual for anyone trying to create collaboration across diverse stakeholder ecosystems.” —Kent Gregoire, executive consultant specializing in regenerative business operating systems; Massachusetts, United States
“Anya offers a wise, generous guide to seeing conflict not as a problem to fix but as an unexpected doorway into deeper connection. This book shows the reader how to recognize difficulties and tension as portals to deeper connection and growth, revealing what we’ve been longing to understand about ourselves and each other.” —Cecily Mak, author, Undimmed: The Eight Awarenesses for Freedom from Unwanted Habits; California, United States
“Through Loving Conflict, Anna has helped me understand that conflict, internal and external, is the birthplace of change and connection. Her work has empowered me to lean in and embrace it fully.” —Renee Russo, “The Exit Queen;” CEO, Rise Up Business Coaching; Vancouver, Canada
“Loving Conflict teaches us how to resolve conflict with grace and dignity while building trust in the process. It is a must‑have playbook for navigating life’s trickiest moments.” —Josh Gardner, CEO and cofounder, Kung Fu Data; Singapore, Singapore
“Anna has an extraordinary way of turning conflict into something meaningful, even hopeful. Her stories stay with you, her practices strengthen you, and her perspective softens the edges we all carry. She reveals how tension can become a doorway rather than a dead end and how curiosity can transform even the most difficult conversations. Her perspective is generous, grounding, and beautifully human.” —Sylvie di Giusto, CSP, CPAE, international 3D immersive Hall of Fame keynote speaker; Florida, United States
“Anna’s work did not just teach me how to navigate conflict; it changed the way I live. Her methods helped me walk into hard conversations with clarity, courage, and a wide open heart. I have used her tools in my marriage, my friendships, my leadership, and in the moments where everything felt on the line. Loving Conflict is the guide for anyone who is ready to stop avoiding tension and start transforming through it.” —Jenny Feterovich, executive producer, START UP TV show, Parliament Studios; global learning community host, Entrepreneur’s Organization; Michigan, United States
“Loving Conflict gave me something I have never had before. It showed me a simple and compassionate way to move toward conflict with more confidence instead of fear. Anna’s stories and tools changed how I show up in moments I used to avoid.” —Ivy Gustafson, thought leader advisor and speaker coach; founder, Ivy Gustafson Advisory; Florida, United States
“Anna’s book is so precious to me because it offers concrete paths to the craft of peace, which can transform our lives and change the world. Yes, even from conflict, astonishing fruitfulness can emerge! But we must take the necessary steps. Thank you, Anna, for sharing your experience with us and opening paths of hope. A must-read and a must-live!” —Fr. Antoine-Emmanuel, Сatholic monk; Basilique de Vézelay, France
“What if we knew how to resolve disagreements without blaming or shaming? What if we had the grace and confidence to dance with conflict? If any of that sounds good, you’re in the right place as that is what this inspiring book teaches. Read it and reap.” —Sam Horn, founder and CEO, The Intrigue Agency; author of ten books; Texas, United States
“One of my most trusted spiritual guides said to me years ago, ‘go toward what you are resisting.’ Every time I read/hear Anna Lecat’s words, every moment that I’m in her luminous orbit, I’m reminded of the deeply challenging and sacred nature of facing our fears, of stepping into zones of discomfort and looking conflict straight in the eye. Because of Anna’s old-growth wisdom and guidance, hope is seeded, healing manifests, and life is reaffirmed. The redemptive stories and lessons packed into this book tether you to life and remind you what really matters.” —Rabbi Michael Lezak, Center for Social Justice, GLIDE; California, United States
“This book is sorely needed by our planet on a societal level and a personal level. Imagine a world where each of us didn’t avoid messy conflicts but approached them with love and curiosity. The goal isn’t to be right; it’s to bring about transformation internally and externally. Do yourself a favor and get this book.” —Dr. Kinari Webb, author, Guardians of the Trees: A Journey of Hope Through Healing the Planet; co-author, The Art of Radical Listening: Revealing Collective Wisdom for Change; California, United States
“Anna Lecat has an extraordinary gift for turning conflict into connection. Drawing from a life lived across cultures, she invites us to lower our walls, listen more deeply, and see the humanity in one another. Loving Conflict is the hopeful, practical guide leaders, partners, and communities need right now.” —Stephanie Camarillo, global speaker, transformation guide, and entrepreneur; Idaho, United States
“Loving Conflict is a remarkable guide for anyone who has spent a lifetime avoiding difficult conversations. Anna reveals the deeper patterns behind our fear of conflict and shows us how presence, curiosity, and the courage to speak our truth can turn tension into genuine collaboration. This book teaches us that when we don’t honor who we are, we lose ourselves in the conformity of others—yet when we dare to engage, we reclaim connection, clarity, and freedom.” —Tanya Chernova, award-winning speaker, best-selling author; Toronto, Canada
“A powerful and necessary book. Anna’s message on Loving Conflict—first shared at TEDxGraz—offers leaders the human-centered future skills our world urgently needs: creating safety, embracing tension, and turning differences into insight. Her clarity and warmth make this work indispensable for anyone striving to build a better way of living and working together.” —Karola Sakotnik, architect of positive future; keynote speaker; founder, Future Skills Farming; best-selling author; Styria, Austria
“Loving Conflict reframes one of the hardest parts of leadership into one of its most valuable. Anna Lecat shows that conflict isn’t a failure of alignment; it’s often the doorway to real collaboration. Grounded in lived experience, this book offers practical principles you can use across leadership, partnerships, and teams. It’s not about winning arguments; it’s about presence, better questions, and building trust when it matters most. For founders and operators navigating high-stakes decisions, Loving Conflict is a clear, humane guide to doing the real work of working with people.” —Joanna Ling, Group CEO, PE Holdings, Sarawak, Malaysia
“Anna Lecat offers a radical yet practical call to lovingly embrace conflict in our relationships as the optimal means of reaching true collaboration. She provides clear, concise, and simple instruction for each of us to achieve the collaborative outcomes we desire.” —Meg Carlson, entrepreneur, former Fortune 100 executive; Idaho, United States
“As an organization committed to the practice of courageous citizenship, we know at Braver Angels that true collaboration is not the absence of conflict; it is the willingness to engage it with courage and skill. Anna Lecat’s Loving Conflict is the essential blueprint for this transformation. Lecat challenges us to step into the divide. This book provides the framework for that courageous work. Her Five Principles of Loving Conflict are the foundational skills we must cultivate to move past fear and defense. The concept of Extreme Listening is a powerful mirror for our own invitation at Braver Angels to see the person behind the political label. Crucially, Lecat addresses the fact that the conflicts we avoid creating are often the ones that need us most, urging us to be the one ‘brave enough to start’ the difficult conversation. This is the definitive, action-oriented practice guide you need. Highly recommended.” —Maury Giles, CEO, Braver Angels; Utah, United States
“We all have something that rots inside: unspoken disagreements. Hurt and anger gnaw at our relations because we fear conflict. Families breed hatred, businesses succumb to endless frustrations, countries prepare for war. Conflict is bad, we are told. Yes, it is, says Anna, when we ignore it. Anna’s book flips the conflict issue on its head. Just go for it. Love it. Read!” —Natacha Kucic, film producer and storyteller; founder and CEO, First Draft; Madrid, Spain
"Anna Lecat has been a game-changing advisor to me on the most challenging communication issues within my organization as well as in personal matters. I’m grateful for this gem of a book, which I will now gift to everyone I know. ” —Marina Byezhanova, CEO, Brand of a Leader; Montréal-Ouest, Canada
“Throughout my life I’ve thought that my ability to avoid conflict was an asset, but in reality, it has been holding me back, both at work and in my personal relationships. Anna Lecat’s Loving Conflict is a must-read for anyone who shies away from conflict and who seeks a more authentic, and ultimately more productive, approach to the dance of life.” —Maryam Mohit, author, former tech exec, TBI advocate; California, USA
“A rare book on how to dance with conflict and learn to turn tension into curiosity, flow, and relationships that grow stronger through difference.” —Andreas Konstantinou, CEO, SlashData; Attiki, Greece
“In Loving Conflict, Anna Lecat reveals that conflict is not a battle to win but a tango to enter—where presence, rhythm, and shared humanity transform tension into connection. Her wisdom invites us to move through our hardest moments with more courage, compassion, and artistry. This book is a gift for every leader, parent, partner, and human who wants to build a more compassionate world.” —Melissa Davis, leadership advisor; Enneagram expert; founder, Melissa Davis Co; Florida, United States
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781966629979 |
| PRICE | $19.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 300 |