7 phrases you can’t say in conflict resolution
July 6, 2008
What if George Carlin had been a mediator instead of a comedian?
I’d like to think he’d have challenged some of the conventions and sacred cows of the conflict resolution world, just like he pushed the envelope with the media.
So I’ll do it instead, though admittedly no George Carlin. While there’s no FCC monitor to bleep you if you utter them, these phrases are dirty words in my lexicon and when I hear them, particularly the first one, I cringe inwardly (and sometimes outwardly).
Phrases like these are traps and black holes for engaging conflict effectively. They complexify conflict even while they purport to simplify it. And they may be giving mediators, mediation and conflict coaches a bad name. [Read more]
Conflict Zen now featured in Alltop
May 7, 2008
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]
