Welcome to 2019! Did you make any resolutions for this new year? I didn’t. With all the hype and statistically proven lack of success attached to new year resolutions, I opted out a few years back. However, I did make a few commitments to myself. Sound like semantics? Depending on how seriously you take your…
I write on Mondays. At least I intend to write on Mondays. However, it’s five-o’clock and I’m just now putting my first words to paper. I’ve been wrestling with what to write about, this Thanksgiving week. We all need to take time to feel gratitude and take note of what we are thankful for, of course. I…
Did you know Veterans Day coincides with holidays in other countries, like Armistice Day in France, and Remembrance Day in the UK? Each celebrates the official end of WWI, and the time major hostilities ended: The 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, 1918. In the U.S., Veterans Day was originally also known as Armistice Day, but at the urging…
“You know it was a good mediation if everyone leaves unhappy and you ended up settling somewhere in the middle.” I’ve heard that sentiment often. In fact, I know colleagues who use it as part of their opening remarks during mediation. Sound good to you? I hope not. I completely disagree with that sentiment. As…
Have you ever gotten angry at home? Me too! Rage Builds from time to time – even in conflict resolution specialists. Although I rarely experience external conflict, I am human and I have my moments! Here’s a recent example from my world: I’ve been ready to get rid of the circa 2000, bigger than two…
OK, so it wasn’t really a bar. It was a nice meeting room, but it felt a lot like a bar-room-brawl. There was finger pointing, turf battling, name calling, accusation throwing, “I dare you to cross this line” taunting, yelling, and even tears. It was two executives and a workplace mediator, spending a day together…
Resistance has the power to derail the best of plans, but acknowledging it with empathy and compassion might just engage the leverage you need to achieve your goals. Like most things in life, resistance has a spectrum. On one end, it shows up as avoidance or maybe a little passive aggressive. One the opposite end,…
Great leaders understand organizational success requires commitment to core values and goals; authentic and timely communication; collaboration to identify the best possible action plans, timelines, and solutions; and, they know how and when to celebrate! Indeed, great leaders celebrate! They celebrate the big wins of course, but more importantly, they seek opportunities to celebrate the…
Twenty years ago as a new manager in the insurance industry, I remember being told by a corporate leadership trainer “the key to being a successful manager is Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!” I also remember looking skeptically into the eyes of that trainer and thinking “Really? You are getting paid to tell me I need to…
Angry arguments benefit no one. In fact, they are a great big waste of time. I’m sure you agree quick conflict resolution and productive discussions win over drawn-out battles any day. Obviously it takes time to participate in an angry argument, but also consider the time you waste re-hashing it, justifying it, and “strategizing” your next move in…
“Assume the best about people and watch how anger and stress fall away.” I don’t know who coined that statement, but I imagine most of you have heard advice about perception similar to this over the years. But, have you ever put it to the test? It took a tragedy in my family, and the unchartered journey that followed, to convince…
Lately I’ve been spending time intentionally observing my dogs. I’ve always enjoyed watching their antics, but I’ve been watching them from a “conflict resolutionist” standpoint. (Wait, I think I just made up a new word – “resolutionist” – I like it!) Anyway, I have two dogs. Both are rescues. Both are happy. Sadie is the…