“You make me angry.” “Don’t get your noise out of joint.” “Settle down.” “Just ‘cause I said it, don’t mean that I meant it.” We use scores of phrases like these when involved in interpersonal conflict. If not spoken out loud, we speak them inside our head. Needless to say, our conflict directives rarely end the […]
Offering a Continuum of Choices is a Trusted Collaborative Problem Solving Technique
August 25, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
When we’re stuck on a problem, and filled with negativity, the options lean to either/or. When we articulate the spaces in-between, new possibilities emerge, a continuum of choices. A continuum of choices reduces the risk of either/or, win/lose, and encourages collaborative problem solving. Offer a continuum As a contract court mediator with Mediate BC, […]
A Lesson from a Golf Champion: Separate Process and Outcome
July 22, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Rory Mcllroy won last week’s British Open golf tourney. The British Open (aka “The Open”) is considered one of the 4 majors; i.e., global golf’s most influential competitions. Mcllory’s assessment of his triumph was revealing, and included some insights, on letting go, and detaching oneself from the outcome. Zen-like. Only 25, Mcllroy is golf’s current […]
Urban beekeeping offers us a lesson in change and conflict management
July 7, 2014 by · Leave a Comment
Its summer, here. Flowers and gardens are blooming. Bees are buzzing in the neighbourhood, and more, if you have backyard beehives. A Yes! magazine article this week, Four Ways to Build a Bee-Friendly Neighborhood, gave some great tips for alleviating neighbour concerns, associated with urban beekeeping. I also thought the tips offer a larger model […]
