10 diverse ways the smartphone can be used for learning and applying social justice

Working in Tanzania, last November, I noticed how much the local people relied on their smartphones, and not just to scroll their social media feeds. Stoked by opportunity, and constrained by infrastructure, they are finding new ways to be resourceful with what they have. In many places in Eastern Africa, including Tanzania, the smartphone becomes […]

A Conflict Christmas Carol [A poem]

[Riffing on the basic storyline from A Christmas Carol (Charles Dickens’ novella), I came up with this poem. Happy holidays!] He walked the streets, not seeing Yet, right he was, never wrong Quick to judge, quick to his trigger. At a festive party one day, he was surprised When the other declared, “you are like […]

A good metaphor for why habits are so hard to change

A good metaphor is gold. Here’s one about how habits are created and why they are so hard to change. It’s from Harvard neurology professor, Alvaro Pascual-Leone, via Norman Doidge’s book, The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science. I love this metaphor. It’s brilliant. And, so winter. So Canadian. […]

Managing the Half-Life of Workplace Conflict

Recently, I was asked by a local organization to assess a workplace conflict situation and provide some recommendations for them, going forward. While I did that, I also realize that the tensions that had surfaced in the group don’t just end, full stop. In many ways, they morph and carry on, below the surface, in […]

A Conflict Management Assessment of Prime Minister Trudeau Incident in Canada’s House of Commons

The House of Commons is the focal point of Canada’s Parliament. It’s where Members of Parliament (MPs), regional representatives, from across Canada, elected by voters, debate issues and vote on bills (draft laws). Last week, an incident, without historical precedent?, involving Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, took place. This news video is a montage of […]