Featured Blogs Section
Featured Blog Posts
If I Had To Do It Again…
Many of us revisit conflicts and other interactions in our heads – and sometimes many times – wishing we had the opportunity to do it again.
Mediation Summit in Changsha, China
This historic Chinese summit discussed discussed implications of the Belt/Road Initiative, announced five years ago.
Affirming the Good in Workplace Conflict—the positive role of affirmations
One of the tools I use frequently with conflict coaching clients, as well as for myself, is affirmations.
What Do Litigants Really Want?
This discusses the article "Inside the Mind of the Client."
3 Ways to Turn Adversaries into Problem-Solving Partners
Most people don’t want to be wrangled into doing something you want but they don’t. Here are three ways to turn them into your problem-solving partners and dissolve resistance.
Stop Giving Others Insult Power
Do you know people who get upset and insulted easily?
How Avoidance Can Help You with Workplace Conflict
It sounds counter intuitive, but Inaction or avoidance can be a viable way of dealing with workplace conflict.
Paying Forward Conflict Lessons
"Thank you for listening to me and my side of our dispute and for disagreeing with me in the gracious way you did--" I learned so much from those words.
How to Express a Concern Without Making Things Worse
When I ask clients why they let a problem go on for so long before addressing it, a common reply is, “I was afraid I’d create more conflict by raising it.”
10 things to think about BEFORE you decide whether to litigate and which lawyer to hire
When you have been wronged, all kinds of emotions rush into your head, direct from your heart, without checking with your mind first.
Evaluative Mediation---Curriculum modules
This article discusses topics that often come up in Evaluative Mediation trainings: A selected number can be included in a course on evaluative mediation, and exercises used to assist “learning” of those topics.
Why Labelling and Group Identity Matters in Conflict?
Labels are increasingly being used to leverage support for group identities and ideals.
Revenge as a Learning Experience
No doubt, at some point in your life, you have wanted to take revenge against someone who “did you wrong”.
Feel The Earth Move – Shifts In The International Dispute Resolution Landscape
Two common themes emerged from a recent panel discussion. First, the idea of a growing ecosystem; and, second, a changing culture.
Children Find Peace in the Forest
Nature Deficit Disorder, a phrase coined by Richard Louv in his book, Last Child in The Woods, is used to describe the impact that urbanisation along with the technological era has had, in reducing the time children are having in nature, nearby nature.
Italian Mediation Model - Video
This article discusses how Italy has approached the initial mediation session.
Dissing of Civil Discourse pt. 3
Interestingly, since beginning of this series of posts several months back, the topic of seeking greater respect and civility in our political and social interactions has ratcheted up significantly, even becoming mainstream!
Values Conflict
It is common to attribute the term ‘values conflict’ as the reason for dissension between us and another person and we may say such conflicts are not resolvable.
Conflict Styles: Digital vs Paper
In training with the Thomas Kilmann or my Style Matters conflict style inventories, you have an option to use either a paper or online version. I used to be ambivalent about this choice, but no more.
Families Belong Together
Several experts have commented on the trauma the children must have experienced being separated from their families.
Construction - Early Completion, Who Owns the "Float"?
Early completion may reduce or completely eliminate an important construction advantage - “float time”.
A Case Study of Murphy’s Law in Missouri
Having lived through the painful U of Missouri conflict, Ben’s account seems extremely accurate – and brings up a lot of sad memories for me, reminding me of things I wrote at the time.
Past the Time Is the Right Time!
Many, many years ago, someone once said to me that people do not begin to negotiate until it is past the time to negotiate.
Crisis Counselor Skills: Helping People In Crisis… in 160 Characters or Less
This article discusses how mediators can apply the communication skills used by Crisis Counselors to help people in crisis.
Agents
I thought I’d achieved a good resolution, but it turns out I was working with the wrong negotiating partner, because they didn’t have the authority to deliver.
In Praise of a Trial
The trial of Paul Manafort is a good illustration of an important value of trials.
What Could be the Source of Modern Polarization?
Everyone’s talking polarization these days.
An Alien Perspective
I don’t understand people from your planet. Many Americans and other earthlings are obsessed with superhero movies.
The Narrative Arc of Conflict
This article discusses Kahneman's words “Odd as it may seem, I am my remembering self, and the experiencing self, who does my living, is like a stranger to me.”
Career in Conflict Resolution?
Everywhere I’ve lived and worked, I’ve met people who feel a deep inner echo to the idea of making peace.
The Science of Stress and How Our Emotions Affect Our Susceptibility to Burnout and Disease
Memory, it turns out, is one of the major factors mediating the dialogue between sensation and emotional experience
Nonverbal Communication, Difficult Conversations (and autonomous cars)
Whenever I teach conflict and communication skills classes or coach someone, I always include the important role nonverbal communication plays.
Up Against a Wall
Sometimes, when involved in an interpersonal conflict, we find ourselves “up against a wall”.
12 Tips for Mediating Complex Business and Government Disputes
This article discusses 12 tips for hiring the right mediator for the right situation.