Conflict zen newsletter, july 2008

Hugh Prather’s on my mind.

I haven’t thought of Hugh Prather for two decades, but he’s come up twice this week. I was chatting with Liz Strauss and she mentioned his work. When she said his name, it took me a moment to recollect who he was.

That very afternoon, as I packed books from my college years (for our upcoming move one town over), I was startled to find a dog-eared copy of Prather’s Notes to Myself: My Struggle to Become a Person. It had been sandwiched between two larger books on the top shelf of a very tall bookcase. I didn’t even recall still having it.

It’s one of those synchronistic moments when it seems like the universe is trying to get my attention. So I sat down amidst boxes and packing tape and spent a few minutes with Hugh. Here’s one of the reflections that the book opened to almost immediately: [Read more]

Conflict zen news for june 2008

May and June have been a whirlwind, between clients, keynote speeches, and conference presentations. I love months like this one!

Since readers often ask me for examples of how I help clients, here are some samples from the past month: I worked with a smart and committed group of law partners seeking to create a more cohesive future for their firm; a coaching client who wants to get more courageous in conflict with her male executive colleagues; the HR director of a multi-site corporation looking for advising on tricky conflicts in her organization; the New Hampshire Conflict Resolution Association as the speaker for their annual dinner; and the Women’s Leadership Summit, where 600 women from around New England came together and for whom I was fortunate to teach two sold out workshops to groups of very cool women.

And a new dog, [Read more]

Fold an origami crane with video help

Back in March I offered up instructions for folding an origami crane.

The crane symbolizes peace in Japanese, Chinese and Korean traditions. In Japan, tradition holds that anyone with the commitment and patience to fold 1,000 paper cranes will be granted their most desired wish. For the true story of Sadako Sasaki and the thousand cranes, visit Why an Origami Crane as Your Logo?

If you’re new to Conflict Zen and haven’t seen the print instructions, or found they didn’t fill in all the blanks, you’re now just 10 minutes away from your own folded origami crane, courtesy of the following clear video instructions from Lisa Shea.

No origami paper? No problem. Use office paper from your recycling stack, used wrapping paper, the funnies, or the map inserted in your last National Geographic. You’ll need a square to start and, if you’re new to origami and cranes, start with a sizeable piece, at least 6″.

[If you can't see the video in your email or feed reader, click here.]

Have fun,

A little gift for the weekend: an origami crane

It’s the weekend, it’s spring, and it’s sunny.

What better excuse for giving a little gift that symbolizes peace?

I’m giving a way a single paper origami crane to anyone in the U.S. who’d like one. Want to see what it looks like? Check out this photo of my business card and crane by Becky McCray, whom I was lucky to meet at SOBCon 2008.

Just leave a comment to let me know you’d like one and I’ll follow up by email to get your mailing address. No strings attached. No getting added to a mailing list. Just something I’d like to share.

Happy weekend,

Conflict Zen now featured in Alltop

In March Guy Kawasaki announced Alltop: “Alltop is deceptively simple. The site gathers up the best suggestions from the most active social web users and compiles links into a simple, clean discovery space.” I’m a big fan of Guy because I like his sense of humor and smart blog.

Yesterday, I learned that Conflict Zen is now one of Alltop’s featured blogs. I feel like Sally Field at the Oscars in 1985!

It’s been a good week. On Saturday at the fabulous SOBCon ‘08, the Lorelle told me my 10-word description of this blog made her hair stand up (in a good way, it turns out) during an exercise in her workshop, and the audience gave an appreciative “ooh!” when I shared it. The description? I help people untangle disagreements so you love going to work. [Read more]

Upcoming workplace conflict resolution events

I’ve got two June workplace conflict resolution workshops that are open to the public, and registration is now under way for both. I’d love to see you there!

Conflict Resolution in the Workplace

New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits
Thursday, June 5, 2008, Keene, NH

This seminar will invite you to jump-start the important dialogues in your life by breaking deeply ingrained habits that undermine dialogue and integrating new habits that shift the way your most important exchanges unfold. You will also learn how to see the art and practice of dialogue as [Read more]

How to fold an origami crane

A number of readers have asked me to post instructions for folding an origami crane.

The first origami crane I’d ever seen was given to me by a dear college friend, Maura. Maura had survived two rounds of childhood cancer and had begun folding cranes after learning Sadako Sasaki’s story of cancer and cranes.

I still have the crane Maura gave me, worn and smudged, now tucked away to preserve it. Maura died a few years after we graduated, [Read more]

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