As a mediator or facilitator, its easy to feel you’re in total control of the process. Don’t hold that thought too tight though! Sometimes, giving co-ownership of the process, over to the people in conflict, can lead to surprising results. It doesn’t matter if it was your intention or it happens spontaneously, letting go can […]
Break bread together: A rule of thumb for good collaboration
May 7, 2010 by · 4 Comments
Have a meal together. Why it matters Eating together helps people connect; helps bond individuals into a collaborative whole. It doesn’t matter what it is that you do, you need something to bring the team together, something that says we’re special, we value each other, and we’re in this together. Food, dress, ceremony, celebration, rituals are […]
Lessons in community values and culture from the Canadian outposts
April 30, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
Communities that are isolated from the mainstream population often develop distinct, rich cultures, based on a firmly established set of values and practices. There are many examples of these communities in Canada, from sea to sea to sea. Yet, a strong set of values is no guarantee that community or its culture will persist. And […]
Break down those silos and re-build from above and below
April 22, 2010 by · 2 Comments
Trying to get everyone on the same page? As long as your team members stay in their silos, your job will be next to impossible. To break down the thick walls between silos, build on the things all silos have in common: the sky above (vision) and the ground below (values). The silos metaphor is […]
Restorative Justice: A community response when bad things happen
April 5, 2010 by · 9 Comments
Bad things happen. They did to Katy Hutchison on New Year’s Eve in 1997. Her husband Bob was beaten to death while checking on a party being thrown by their neighbour’s son. It happened in Squamish, a small town just north of Vancouver. A wall of silence grew up around the murder. It was four […]
It takes a system to change a system
March 21, 2010 by · Leave a Comment
It takes a system to change a system. I love that phrase. I came across it a couple weeks ago when reading British Columbia mediator/lawyer Nancy Cameron’s excellent book Collaborative Practice: Deepening the Dialogue. This book is a road map for family lawyers making the journey from traditional litigation to collaborative practice. Now, I’m not […]
The good farmer: An expert in relationships and sustainability
March 13, 2010 by · 6 Comments
There is a view of farmers that I believe seriously undervalues their value, in the bigger scheme of things. I’ve thought this for a long time. It goes back to my early years living on my late Dad’s farm. He grew crops and raised pigs for market. Yet; he was also a German Jewish intellectual, […]
Gift the "open source' spirit to your next collaboration
March 7, 2010 by · 1 Comment
Open Source is both a way of working together and a state-of-mind. Typically associated with an approach to software development, it’s also a philosophy, and something I think aligns with a spirit of generosity and authentic collaboration, even if your project is not focused on software development. The Open Source spirit Brian Behlendorf is a […]
