The Magic Relationship Ratio

In relationships, accentuate the positive.  Negative interactions have more clout than positive interactions.  It is not a balanced equation.  You need to have many positive interactions for each negative interaction, if you want a healthy, sustainable relationship! Relationship expert John Gottman sees each of our daily interactions with another person as bids for connection.  By […]

BP: A reminder of why connection matters

It’s official.  The still unresolved BP accident in the Gulf of Mexico is now the biggest environmental disaster in U.S. history.  Yet, could this also be an opportunity, a momentum-builder for constructive dialogue, about our relationships, with each other, and nature, and a bottom-line where everything connects? I hope so. When we aren’t connected For […]

Musings on peeling the onion and visual thinking

We all have needs. When we’re stuck, dealing with unmet needs can help get things moving forward again. Understanding needs can be like peeling an onion; there are many layers. It may be a bit painful in the peeling, yet good things can happen afterwards, not the least of which is crafting sustainable solutions, as […]

Surprises in mediation can be a good thing

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 down those silos and re-build from above and below

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 […]