One way of coping with conflict is to sweep things under the rug. As you likely know, this metaphor refers to ignoring problems rather than facing and managing them. One idiomatic definition consistent with this from Wiktionary is “To conceal a problem expediently, rather than remedy it thoroughly.” Sometimes the tendency to sweep things under the rug comes with the hope that what is…

"What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly round up of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions […

Several months ago, I had the difficult task of needing to give someone bad news. She didn’t live in my area, so I had to do it by phone.

I looked up her phone number and wrote it on a sticky note. And then I attached it to the console of my car and drove around with it for several weeks!!! Even on a vacation. It fell down so many times and I dutifully stuck it back on … knowing that sooner or later, I needed to pick up that phone.

Fortunately, the…

Some conflicts – typically ethnopolitical conflicts – are very extreme and filled with religious and cultural symbolism that is difficult to manage. Go to the address below to read something about "beheadings" and the religious and group implications.

http://peaceandconflictpolitics.com/

I had a new experience the other day–and, it wasn’t pleasant. I actually had an apology ungraciously  rejected…and it felt really bad. Really bad.I’ll give you a little backstory–my five year-old son and a friend from class have what you would call a “volatile relationship.” What I mean by this is that one provokes the other, they scuffle a lot, then make up. Scuffle again. Compete for Alpha Male. You know the drill.

Well, it happened again in class. This…

Wiktionary suggests the following idiomatic explanations of the expression walking on eggshells: 1. “To be overly careful in dealing with a person or situation because they get angry or offended very easily; to try very hard not to upset someone or something.” and 2. “To be careful and sensitive, in handling very sensitive matters.”

When applied to interpersonal conflict I think of those…

In this digitally connected age, social media has become a powerful tool to advance peace. Join Dr. Craig Zelizer as we discuss how to move beyond the click and utilize these powerful tools to promote peace. Listen in on October 7^th and meet us…

"What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly round up of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions [HERE].…

 was on vacation last week and had more time to watch the news than usual. Gosh, it’s so hard to watch the news sometimes. So much strife going on in the world.

So, I thought it was time to write about a wonderful project that works on planting ‘seeds of peace.’

Seeds of…

It’s funny–for the better part of my mediation training, I’ve had discussions with fellow mediators about how few people choose mediation, especially during divorce. And, what a shame that more people don’t know about the benefits of divorce mediation–or even collaborative divorce.

However, the word is out–at least in our office. In my six months at this private practice, every couple that has considered divorce has decided to do so OUT of the court system! To be sure, some couples…

Lately I have been hearing several of my friends complaining about their life partners. It seems it is more than usual, but maybe I am just more aware of their plaints these days for some reason. The gripes typically start with “I hate when he (or she)…” and the “odious” acts, as they perceive them, may be how the person answers the phone, eats, flosses, leaves laundry on the floor, makes puns, and on and on. Of course, the same sorts of responses may be made regarding siblings, friends,…

Globalization is making our world smaller with cross-cultural situations at the core. Even though diversity can be a powerful source for creativity, adaptability and innovation, the potential for conflict increases, requiring even more attention to how we deal with differences…

(Originally published in the blog of conflictconversations.org)

Mediation, including family mediation, is not regulated in Ontario. There are, however, a number of voluntary associations that can attest to the credentials or the skills of their members. Nonetheless, it’s crucial then that couples in search of…

"What's Happening in Conflict Resolution" is a weekly round up of the all the ADR news, jobs, events and more. Check it out each week and view past versions [HERE].…

Earlier this year, I signed up for an online presentation about ‘Energy Management.’ I thought now that sounds interesting … I need a lot of energy to get everything done – maybe I could be doing things better.

It turns out that the program was about the kind of energy you bring to a conflict (into a room, as I call it), not the kind that keeps you…

The latest blog entry at the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation tells a story of a mediation where the parties called all the shots.  You can read it here.

My supervisor and I were chatting the other day, and I was lamenting about clients who always seem to bring someone into session. She nodded and said, “yep, they need a wingman.”I hadn’t really thought about it in the broader perspective (I was just getting annoyed), but she was right. Some people in conflict need a wingman. And, it got me thinking about whether this is a good–or bad–thing.…