Jillian Yuhas & Jan Yuhas: Empowering Ambitious Leaders through Relationship Building and Conflict Resolution

Meet sisters Jan Yuhas, M.A., MFT and Jillian Yuhas, M.A., MFT, Founders of Twenty Eight Inc, and experts in interpersonal psychology and conflict resolution. With over 20 years of experience, they've helped entrepreneurs, microbusinesses, and corporate interests improve their relationship management and business performance. They're the authors of the acclaimed book "Boundary Badass" and have been featured in publications like Emotional Intelligence Magazine, Communication Intelligence, and YahooLife.

Their methodology is empowering, realistic, and proven, teaching people how to develop positive negotiating strategies and manage conflict in a non-confrontational way. They help individuals adapt and grow, finding success in their personal and professional relationships.

Business Outstanders has formally recognized Jan Yuhas and Jillian Yuhas as '5 Top Inspiring Business Leaders to Watch in 2024' and had the privilege of conducting an interview with both.

Interview Highlights:

Q. Based on your extensive involvement in interpersonal psychology and conflict management, what out of all the cases you both have handled stands out as the most transformative and what were its major elements that led to its success?

As relationship capital and conflict resolution strategists, we have assisted companies with significant friction between employees and management. At one company, employees felt undervalued and silenced, decreasing morale and productivity. Implementing conflict resolution strategies facilitated open dialogue between employees and executives, enhanced communication skills through virtual workshops, and identified employees suited for management roles based on their skills and leadership abilities.

As a result, the company's workplace culture improved, employee engagement and satisfaction increased, new management was hired, and the ability to execute long-term goals improved. This example highlights how effective conflict resolution promotes leadership growth and long-term business success.

Q. Give an instance where setting limits in a professional relationship served as a breakthrough for a customer or company you coached?

We coached a company who had a client that spiraled out of control, leading to repetitive mid-project changes. This caused strain on the company due to the time constraints, delayed deliverables, and financial fees and costs associated with the change. We assisted the company by establishing boundaries regarding the scope of the new project with an updated contract including the timeline, project fees, response time regarding communication updates, and limits to any future changes to prevent additional mid-project changes. By implementing a more structured approach and mutually agreed-upon processes, the company regained control of the project, improved team morale, and maintained a positive relationship with the client.

Q. Twenty Eight, stresses on the relationship capital. Could you please expand on what are the main components of the relationship intelligence blueprint that you have mentioned earlier, and what are the roles of each of them with regards to boosting the revenue of a company and enhancing both internal and external relations?

Relationship capital, encompassing both internal and external relationships, is a significant driver of a company's revenue and long-term growth. Internally, strong relationships foster a collaborative environment where employees feel valued to share ideas and innovative solutions, improve processes, and address areas of growth. Positive relationships between employees and management reduce turnover rates, saving costs associated with recruiting and training new staff and maintaining continual profitability. Additionally, when employees have good working relationships, they communicate effectively and work more efficiently, resulting in higher productivity and better performance. A supportive and respectful workplace boosts morale and job satisfaction, leading to higher employee engagement, better customer service, and a positive company culture that attracts top talent.

Externally, building strong relationships with customers fosters loyalty, leading to repeat business and brand recognition. Positive relationships with other businesses, customers, suppliers, and partners can lead to beneficial collaborations, providing access to new opportunities, shared resources, and joint ventures that drive growth. A company known for its strong relationships gains a positive market reputation, enhancing brand value and attracting more customers, investors, and talented employees. Good relationships with suppliers and service providers can also result in better negotiation terms, and more favorable contracts, reducing costs and improving the company’s bottom line.

Q.  The book “Boundary Badass” has received international recognition. What drove you both into writing it and what message do you want readers to take away from it?

Personally, our journey began with a profound transformation when we moved from a rural farm town of 900 people to a metropolitan city of 3 million. This cultural shock opened up our eyes to the reality that not everyone shared similar values, leading us to strengthen our boundaries.

In our professional endeavors, we developed the Boundary Badass Method (BBM) during our first entrepreneurial venture. By refining our professional values and interpersonal psychology skills, we skillfully addressed client-relation disconnects, especially when service requests exceeded contractual agreements. Through strategic negotiation techniques, we effectively met clients' needs while upholding our business policies, consistently achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

The BBM is anchored in a "We Mindset," emphasizing the importance of understanding each individual's perspective to bridge gaps and find common ground based on shared core values. This approach fosters mutual respect and strengthens relationships, creating a harmonious environment where all parties feel valued and understood. Through the Boundary Badass Method, we have successfully navigated the complexities of professional relationships, ensuring success and satisfaction for both our clients and our business.

Q.  What strategies do you both find most effective in helping leaders develop the art of setting boundaries without compromising their leadership style or damaging their relationships? Could you elaborate on a case where these strategies significantly improved a leader’s effectiveness and relationships?

A company’s value system will be its guiding principle in establishing boundaries within the workplace. Values are universally understood whereas emotions are often one-sided projections being displaced onto the professional relationship or interaction. When conflict arises, we recommend assessing with discovery questions, also known as open-ended questions, that allow for the gathering of insight into perspectives or actions to eliminate false assumptions. The assessment process can clear up any disconnects or discords quickly and resolve the problem solely based on facts, rather than being hindered by psychological blind spots.

Our Boundary Badass Method follows four steps, A.S.A.P:

●      Assess with discovery questions

●      Set a boundary using a professional value

●      Agree to a mutually beneficial plan

●      Proceed with accountability

Q.  As certified crisis counselors, how do you use crisis intervention techniques to coach relationships for highly ambitious entrepreneurs and companies? Can you give an example when such techniques played a significant role in assisting a client navigate through their professional or personal life crisis?

In times of crisis, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor facilitates rational thinking and the implementation of effective solutions. We were hired by an investment firm who had encountered a highly agitated customer, in response to a market downturn. This distraught customer had directed their frustration toward our client, threatening to terminate their services. We swiftly guided our client through a discovery process with the customer to reassess all prior decisions made regarding their investment account. It was revealed that these decisions remained consistent with the customer's objectives and long-term investment goals. Recognizing this alignment, the customer quickly relinquished their anger. Our client's ability to stay composed and redirect the conversation toward alignment played a crucial role in defusing the situation and restoring the client's confidence.

Q.  What is it that makes you both so passionate about helping others improve their relationships and develop leadership skills? Is there anything from your personal life or career that has had a lot of impact on you as a person concerning your current path?

We discovered our calling around the age of twenty-one when we mediated family discord for teens who had run away from home. This passion led us to expand our professional academics in interpersonal psychology and become certified mediators while pursuing our innate desire to help others resolve problems. Today, our purpose is fulfilled by guiding professionals and companies to achieve greater success through elevating their value and improving their relationship capital. Each day brings new and rewarding experiences.

Q.  Women empowerment is a central theme in many discussions today. How do you incorporate the principles of empowerment and leadership into your work with female clients? Could you share a story where your coaching helped a woman transform her personal or professional life by setting stronger boundaries and embracing her value?

When working with female business owners, we empower them to flourish and succeed. We focus on helping them recognize their intrinsic value, set strong boundaries, and develop leadership skills to achieve their goals.

One notable client was a talented professional in a competitive industry who struggled with assertiveness and feeling undervalued. Through our coaching, we boosted her confidence, enhanced her communication skills, and created alignment to her inherent worth, which overall increased her bottom-line. We practiced techniques in everyday work situations to master assertively setting boundaries and effectively communicating with her team.

Over time, she became more confident in her abilities, and improved her relationships, both personally and professionally. This shift led to her being heard and respected, enabling her to reach her full potential.

Q.  In your coaching practice, how do you both deal with misunderstandings about setting boundaries among people working together professionally? What would be the top three misconceptions?

The top three misconceptions about workplace boundaries are that they are equivalent to expectations, set only once, and rigid. Unilateral demands often breed distrust and create a toxic culture by dismissing employees’ voices within the collective.

In reality, boundaries are flexible and evolve with relationships. They are based on values and standards and meet the needs of the connection, not one individual. Professional boundaries aim to bridge disconnects and address evolving needs, fostering trust, transparency, and respect.

Q.  The number 28 is associated with the meaning prosperity, leadership and balance. In what way does Twenty Eight incorporate these values into its consulting model and how do you ensure that apart from creating economic value for clients, clients also experience personal power, balance, and remarkable relationships?

At Twenty Eight, our approach begins with enhancing professional growth and management for companies, equipping clients with advanced strategies to boost performance and productivity, ultimately driving increased revenue and long-term success.

We focus on cultivating leadership skills across all team members, fostering a unified effort toward achieving company goals. This involves developing company value alignment, implementing stress management, professional boundaries, conflict resolution techniques, and encouraging heart-centered thinking to address conflicts constructively. By valuing every individual and enhancing relationship-building and negotiation skills, we create leaders who are adept at fostering positive, productive interactions and recognizing everyone’s own unique personal power.

Jan Yuhas, M.A., MFT and Jillian Yuhas, M.A., MFT | Founders, Twenty Eight, Inc.

Jan Yuhas and Jillian Yuhas are Relationship Capital and Conflict Resolution Strategists, and International Best-selling authors of Boundary Badass: A Powerful Method for Elevating Your Value and Relationships. Jan and Jillian have coached highly ambitious entrepreneurs and companies for more than a decade on building stronger relationships, improving conflict resolution skills, increasing revenue growth, and mastering the art of workplace boundaries.

For more info, visit them at twentyeightconsultancy.com

“Problems will remain present until each perspective has been heard. It is only through active listening that we can uncover common ground and achieve a resolution.”