I am using the term ‘negotiation’ broadly, applying it to a wide variety of situations where groups or individuals are seeking an agreement. Central elements of a negotiation are similar whether it is a personal relationship, a business arrangement, or a diplomatic issue between nations. In all of these situations the parties have different […]
#12 Increase Your Power at Negotiation Keep Reading »
When people are in conflict they see things differently. They each have their own truth, but the two truths differ. Although this is a central feature of conflict, the mediation field has not addressed it very well. Some general approaches that are used in mediation include: Assisting parties to treat the situation as
#11 Negotiating the Truth Keep Reading »
You leave work and approach your car. Someone has tried to break in. You look around, but see no one. You feel angry and frustrated by the damage and inconvenience this will cause. You feel violated. Who was the person who did this? Why did he or she do it? If someone has
#10 Why Victims are Attracted to Offenders Keep Reading »
Collaboration can be described as a style of conflict engagement that seeks cooperation with the other party and strives to generate outcomes that benefit both parties in a maximum and balanced manner. Here is one of the frequent challenges presented by a conflict. How much do you compete with the other party trying
#9 Five Questions that Test Your Ability to Be Collaborative Keep Reading »
Cinnie Noble recently raised the topic of conflict and spirituality in her LinkedIn group, the Conflict Coaching Guild. This is a topic close to my heart and one I will likely return to in future posts. Through the lively discussion Cinnie started, I discerned a division in approaches to spirituality in conflict. The first
#8 Are Conflict and Spirituality Connected? Keep Reading »
Tasks are what a team does to accomplish its objectives. Process is how the team goes about those tasks. Being an effective team depends as much on team processes as the capabilities of its membership. Process is particularly relevant in team meetings. Shifting to process requires two steps. We have to notice what is
#7 Empower the Effectiveness of Your Team with Process Keep Reading »
One of the most important skills of conflict competence is understanding and making use of the difference between task and process. We will continue to make use of the team meeting in an imaginary organization first introduced two weeks ago. Stephanie had begun to comment on a product concept. Fred cut her off
#6 The Task and Process Approach to Team Communication Keep Reading »
In last week’s blog we visited a team meeting in an imaginary organization. Stephanie had begun to comment on a product concept. Fred cut her off and launched into a brief attack against the quality and timing of her input. Last week’s main point was that such an attack or expression of personal criticism
#5 Track Topics to Derive more Benefit from Team Conflict Keep Reading »
One of the most valuable and current books for a mediator is Bernie Mayer’s Staying with Conflict. One of the chapters covers the topic of conflict avoidance – the ways that people shy away from the conversations that would be beneficial for them. I am sure you can relate to avoiding someone you
#4 Criticism and Attacks can be an Avoidance Strategy Keep Reading »
