[October 9, 2017 is Thanksgiving Day in Canada. My poem gives thanks to conflict’s role in my learning journey.] Hello Conflict, my trusted friend I can count on you, to put in an appearance, every day A gift, of sorts Thank you. When I work with you, respect you My differences with others turn small […]
How to minimize the extent unconscious bias impacts your decision-making process
September 20, 2017 by · 1 Comment
“That’s not what I meant to say.” Yet, I did. Was I tripped up by my unconscious biases? The list of cognitive biases, a subset of our unconscious biases, is long (150+). Biases influence how we behave in the world. Unconscious bias is a performance killer “Unconscious bias is a powerful yet quiet performance killer. It literally […]
My “Expressing Feelings” Algorithm for Difficult Workplace Conversations and Problem-Solving
August 29, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
“Never mind all that feelings stuff, let’s just do it”. Just do it. Just do the work. If only life were so simple. In the workplace, jointly solving problems often involves difficult conversations, and conflicting views. Difficult conversations won’t go well unless feelings are surfaced. We have to have those conversations. Change happens, finding solutions to […]
Shalom: Dispute and conflict and educational moments in a nonprofit board
July 31, 2017 by · 4 Comments
Disputes are conflicts, our differences, brought to light. In 14 years of mediating business and community disputes, I’ve observed that a dispute is also, as often as not, a proxy for a hitherto unexpressed conflict, be it a gap in communication, a feeling that somethings not quite right, here, a hot button pushed… the list […]
Communication and Diplomacy: The skills workplace managers need to improve most
March 21, 2017 by · Leave a Comment
Raise your hand if you’ve been witness to a workplace conversation that goes something like this? Employee: I wish you had checked with me before making the decision. Manager: I just assumed that it worked for you. Employee: It puts me in a difficult position with the team. Manager: Don’t worry. I’ll talk to them. […]
