In our global village world, we are more likely to buy into ideas and approaches developed somewhere else, in a different place. This is certainly true in the conflict management arena; whether its interest-based negotiation, more prisons, or Online Dispute Resolution (ODR). No matter if good or bad, these other ways can distract us from […]
Collaboration insights gained through improv training with Dave Morris
April 15, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Since early March I’ve been attending a basic improvisation class, led by Dave Morris, here in Victoria. It just wrapped up. I’ve spent a lot of my life relying on my left brain. Spending 2 hours a week with 15 others, largely in right brain mode, was something I figured I could handle! Plus, intuitively I […]
e-Training Conflict Management skills: How to keep it interactive and experiential?
April 10, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
I got much of my classroom-based conflict management training through the Justice Institute of BC (JIBC), over a decade ago. I really enjoyed it. It was immediate, face-to-face, conversational, with lots of role-playing and discussion. Interactive and experiential. Since then, I, and many others, have wrestled with how to generate a similarly satisfying experience, online. […]
The Hybrid Mediator: Choreographing conversations across communications channels
April 8, 2013 by · 2 Comments
Facilitating difficult conversations is hard. And, what’s making it even harder is that it can be difficult to know which communications channel is most appropriate, for the situation-at-hand. The options seem endless; chat, text, email, phone, video, face-to-face… Using the wrong channel, at the wrong time, in the wrong way… is, well, not a good […]
My Life of Pi
April 5, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Some people are highly skilled experts in one discipline. These people often credit their incredibly focused expertise as a key to their success, however they define success. I do not see myself as one of those single expertise people, though I kind of like the success part of the equation. T-shaped skills Other people have expertise […]
The Neighbourhood Stroll Habit: A way to recharge your collaborative mindset
March 21, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
When I’m working at my home office, by mid-day I’m usually ready for some outside time. Fortunately I live in an inviting neighbourhood. A short stroll in my ‘hood helps recharge my batteries. And when the batteries are charged, its easier to do those good things: focus, listening, empathy… associated with the collaborative mindset. On the […]
8 Key differences between online and face-2-face facilitation
March 11, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
So much work seems to take place online these days, and that goes for the practice of facilitation, too. And, each time I facilitate a meeting or mediation online, I further clue into the truth that online and face-2-face facilitation are different beasts. It’s easy to get into trouble when we attempt to port what […]
Indie Game Design: A vulnerable place to be
March 6, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
I was doing a bit of prep this week for a presentation/workshop I’m co-delivering in Seattle later this month, with BC mediation colleague, the ever-creative Sharon Sutherland. Our session will look at the unique potential of ‘digital natives’ in the dispute resolution field, of tomorrow. This all got me thinking about some digital natives, game designers/developers, […]
