In this blog I am suggesting that there may be two general pathways to compatibility in dispute resolution. Consciously choosing one or the other can assist you to be more effective at addressing differences. Additionally, since the first pathway is the one that is normally taken, I am going to focus more on the characteristics […]
#48 Two Pathways To Compatibility Keep Reading »
The mosquito is the most dangerous animal in the world, but it is not the animal most of us imagine with fear. I heard an American political adventurer (my term) being interviewed on the CBC radio show, Ideas, use this example to clarify the difference between what is frightening and what is dangerous. During the
We have different parts to ourselves: body, mind, emotion, spirit, and heart. Conflict impacts some or all of these five parts of us. In the previous blog I wrote that we must communicate from the part that has been impacted in order to address the effects of conflict on that level. And, when trust is
#46 The Five Parts Of Us Impacted By Conflict Keep Reading »
We each have different parts to ourselves such as body, mind, emotion, spirit and heart. These are the parts of a person Ken Cloke describes in his book The Crossroads of Conflict. By spirit I think Ken means intention and life energy; and by heart, the place where love resides and which is also a
#45 How To Bring Spirit and Heart To Your Conflicts Keep Reading »
When you speak sitting in a circle something magical happens. You listen and speak from a more genuine level and the potential of your group rises. The power of circle can be applied in settings as diverse as the corporate boardroom and the kindergarten schoolyard. Circle practices promote inclusivity, connection, and creativity. By
#44 How to Harness the Power of Circle Keep Reading »
In the previous blog I wrote about how to advance your interests when dealing with someone who has authority over you. In this blog, I will present some perspectives on how to encourage your subordinates to open up with you and provide you with valuable feedback. Most of us have heard subordinates talking privately about
#43 Power Down: Share Power To Level The Playing Field With Subordinates Keep Reading »
Participants in my classes will frequently ask how to work with someone who has more power than they do. This question often refers to someone who has more authority. Authority is only one form of power and when we view it as absolute it will blind us to other sources of power that we have.
Listening with the intention to understand is the most fundamental requirement for understanding others in difficult situations. But, maintaining this positive intention is challenging for a number of reasons. Foremost, an intention is abstract which makes it very difficult for most of us to monitor. Secondly, our internal reactivity to what offends us or what
#41 Understanding Others By Demonstration and Confirmation Keep Reading »
In the last two posts, I wrote about Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis who ran into stiff opposition from the medical establishment in the 1850s for asking doctors to wash their hands between dissecting cadavers and assisting women in childbirth even when he presented convincing statistical evidence that the washing routine was reducing mortality of mothers. You
#40 Dr. Semmelweis: The Complexity of Conflict Stories Keep Reading »
