Maria Simpson
Articles and Video:Maria Simpson gives advice for mediators on how to arrange a great mediation session. She discusses practical tips to make sure that every mediation session is spent wisely. Conflict Resolution: It's Your Job A few years ago, an article reported that the one thing employees most wanted in the new year was for managers to resolve disputes between staff members more quickly. Seems as if they still do. The articles keep coming. 1 Comment The Four A's Ask a curious, not a challenging, question. Ask for information so that more options for resolution can be created than what seem to be on the table at the moment. A challenging question is often used as an accusation (ISN’T IT TRUE THAT . . . !!!) and that will push people away from the discussion and into impasse. Changing Bad Organizational Habits Organizations have good and bad habits. This article discusses how to easily support the beneficial habits and address the negative habits. Reframing 101 When people reframe, they often change the words, but keep the original motivation of a statement. This article helps people to keep the important information in a sentence, but to take out some of the harmful emotion that went along with the original statement. Two Deadly Biases People like order and certainty, so they create an explanation that supports that order and then reinforces it. Maria Simpson points out that the problem with creating this order is that mediators can lump participants into roles that create assumptions and biases. 1 Comment Addressing the Emotions of Conflict When we become aware of a disagreement and realize we are part of it, our first response is emotional. Whether at work or in a family situation or a legal proceeding, the hurt we feel, the hurt that is felt first through the same part of the brain that feels physical pain, can become the barrier to a satisfactory resolution. Without addressing the hurt, we might have an agreement on actions but not a resolution of the underlying pain or sense of injustice we feel. Online or Onsite? Teaching Mediation and Conflict Resolution How can you teach something with no real-time, face-to-face interaction when what you are teaching takes place mostly face-to-face and in real time? Organizational Celebrations Are Insights Into Organizational Culture If you are working with an organization, especially on an employment dispute, understanding the organization’s culture will provide important insight into what generated a dispute. How can you affordably gain insight into the values that are important to the organization? Take a look at what is celebrated in the events the organization sponsors. Organizational Culture: The Context For Employment Disputes Employment disputes often start with someone saying something like, “It just turned out not to be a good fit.” Or maybe, “I don’t understand how such a good hire turned into such a bit fit, but it did.” The question is, What is the employee supposed to fit into? 1 Comment Good Leaders Are Good Mediators If you work on organizational or employment conflict, you will be very pleased to know that the latest trend in ideas about leadership focuses on the need for excellent conflict resolution skills. This trend is good news not just for mediators, but for all those who work in organizations where the lack of conflict resolution skills was often seen as a sign of strength. 1 Comment Recognizing Ineffective Team Patterns Sometimes teams are stuck in ineffective communications patterns that aren’t even recognized although they may be having significant impact on the team’s success. These patterns can be focused on such issues as relationships, processes, behaviors, or resources. Even if you are sure your team is working well, it might be useful to step back and take a look at the patterns of communications on these issues and see if any can be improved.  |
Maria Simpson, Ph.D. is an executive coach, consultant, trainer and mediator who has worked extensively with the corporate, non-profit and conflict resolution communities to promote incorporating conflict resolution into organizational systems and training people in the skills and approaches of mediation.
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