This has been an interesting past couple weeks. I have spent much of my time with people experiencing serious conflict in both their personal and professional lives. Now you might be thinking, “Well yeah, that’s what you do. That’s the business you are in. What’s different about now?” I think the difference is the fact …
Several years ago, I was approached by a client and asked if I do work around Leadership Development. My response at the time was, “No, I don’t do that, I work in the context of conflict engagement.” After a bit of discussion, the client, a school superintendent replied, “Do you know how much of my …
I am focusing the next few blogs on summarizing, to the extent I can, my top ten learning’s around conflict engagement. One of my early lessons as a mediator was the value of summary. While serving many purposes, the value for the mediator is the ability, to stop, take stock, and determine …
This exercise in identifying a “top 10 list” for effectively engaging conflict has caused some interesting reflection. On the one hand I do not want to imply that when applied these “10 easy strategies” will eliminate the challenge of conflict. At the same time, it seems clear that there are, in fact, some essentials for …
The final four on my top 10 list represent some of my more recent learning. They are elements of an emerging shift in the way I understand the work of conflict engagement and have expanded the context in which I choose who I will be and what I will do while engaging conflict. Let’s look …
One key distinctive informing our work is the importance for teams to effectively balance task and maintenance. Simply stated, task focuses on the work, product, or objective of the team while maintenance focuses on the design and implementation of effective strategies and processes that will facilitate the work of the group. A second key distinctive …
Teaming / Collaboration: Balancing Task with Maintenance: Part 1 Read More »
Sometimes you need to have a conversation about how you are going to do the work before you start doing the work. There are several conversations that teams should have when entering a collaborative initiative and that should be revisited on a somewhat regular basis. In my last post I identified these as: What is …
Teaming / Collaboration: Balancing Task with Maintenance: Part 2 Read More »
Those who want to get on with the work of the team sometimes see the focus on balancing task with maintenance as a waste of time. We are busy people, and we don’t have time to waste on all this process. While some teams do get bogged down in process it is important that we …
Teaming / Collaboration: Balancing Task with Maintenance: Part 3 Read More »
I have spent the past 30+ years engaged in teaching people how to navigate conflict. I started in the early 90’s teaching Basic Mediation. I continue to this day offering multiple classes and seminars on skills and strategies for effectively engaging this experience we call conflict. Reflecting on this history I have become aware that …
In my most recent post I shared some emerging thoughts on the notion of redefining our relationship with conflict. I continue to be engaged by this challenge, as I am daily reminded of the approach/avoidance relationship many have with conflict. I encounter so many in my work who define themselves as conflict averse. Given …
Redefining our Relationship to Conflict: Shifting from Doing to Being Read More »
