Even in a short time-frame mediation, like those that I do in Small Claims Court, an initial focus on relationships and process pays off. If people are ok with what’s going down, process-wise, and nobody is getting bullied, then what flows after, e.g., the “facts”, seems to have more traction. I believe this same philosophy […]
What's your default?
Two months ago, the default rule for setting out my garbage and compost changed. It used to be that I placed all garbage and compost into one type of container. That container was picked up by the City and taken to the local landfill. That changed. Now the City provides two types of containers, one […]
Place-based Conflict Management
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
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 […]