How can we use words and voice as tools for a more peaceful world? Laurie Schloff, communication coach, author of Smart Speaking, a book called "the best book ever written about speaking" will discuss the top five techniques for communicating in a peaceful,…

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

Stories Mediators Tell

Guest writer Glen Parker is presenting at the 2013 ACR Annual Conference

Story telling is the glue that holds a community together. It is also how we express…

youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUVmPVKaJzk

Folks, here's my (illustrated!) TEDx Talk  on Mindfulness in the Midst of Conflict at…

In this special 23rd Episode of the Conflict Specialists Show, Dave Hilton spotlights the Association of Attorney-Mediators and talks to past AAM national president- Trey Bergman.

Some of the topics in today’s episode:

• History, Mission and Goals of the Association of Attorney-Mediators
  
  
• AAM Educational and Professional Requirements for…

All--

There was an article on the NY Times first page today (Sun, 8/18/13) about the US's failed efforts to have a good effect on the turmoil in Egypt.  THIS POST TAKES NO POSITION on what any Egyptians are doing, nor on what US policy should be about events in Egypt.  The Times article is here (sign-in may be required; free with subscription or if you have had few views so far this month):…

After a conflict is over, it helps to ‘take stock’ of what happened and to learn from the experience. One of the definitions of this idiom – ‘to take stock’ – relevant to a conflict situation is “to think carefully about a situation or event and form an opinion about it, so that you can decide what to do”. Another pertinent …

After exploring objective measures for student assessment currently employed in negotiation courses, co-author Yael Efron and I set out to determine and explore the most subjective measures teachers apply. After having discovered that the most objective measure of all – old-school quizzes – was rarely employed, we were not at all surprised to conclude that the most subjective measure employed is also (by far!) the most popular one, an assessment tool encountered in nearly all negotiation…

Learn about truancy and how mediation can be a valuable process for students, parents, and schools. You will learn about typical cases referred to our juvenile truancy mediation program and possible outcomes. We will discuss the benefits of truancy mediation as well as take away…

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

In this 21st Episode of the Conflict Specialists Show, Dave Hilton interviews Dr. Belinda Newman, Ombudsman for the University of North Texas.

Some of the topics in today’s episode:

• Types of Ombuds
  
  
• International Ombudsman Association Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics
• "Ombudsman" vs…

The derivation of the expression “Achilles’ heel” dates back to an ancient legend. The story goes that Achilles’ mother Thetis dipped him into the river Styx to make him invulnerable. One of his heels was not covered by the water though, and as a consequence he was later killed by an arrow wound to the heel that was exposed. The expression – Achilles’ heel – is used till this day as a metaphor for…

As summer vacation ends, parents rush to prepare for another school year. You may have filled your child’s backpack, but missed the most important detail in your preparations. Join Jeanne Dexter and Paul Schweinler, to learn how parents, teachers, and other adults, can start conversations with their child that allow them to talk about what concerns them, express what they need,…

“The innovative mediator must seize the opportunity to chart her own path through uncharted territory at the risk of perishing among professionals who have already staked a claim.”  Seamone, (2000).

Man and His Culture

     Individuals define themselves by their environments, group affiliations and the families they grew up in. This shapes and influences their notions on right and wrong and how people should behave…

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

In this 20th Episode of the Conflict Specialists Show, Dave Hilton interviews Maile Beers-Arthur (AP Mediation) and Tim Stranges.

Some of the topics in today’s episode:

• Maryland Conflict Resolution Centers
  
  
• Benefits of Co-Trainers During a 40 Hour Basic Mediation Course
  
  
• Soon-To-Be Released Inmate/Family…

Many years ago I briefly worked as a case manager for a legal referral service in Allentown, Pennsylvania. My job was to listen to people's legal troubles and align them with an affordable attorney.

One day, I got a call from a client -- let's call him Phil --  who had been trying, with no luck, to find an attorney with experience with "monkey cases."  And he wasn't talking…

I remember my mother using the slang expression ‘slow burn’ when she was feeling angry at someone about something she or he said or did. The sentence started, “I’m doing a slow burn ever since Mary….” Luckily, we seemed to be a family that regularly used idioms, so I didn’t literally think of her burning. But, I do recall asking her, “What is a fast burn?” and her response, “Well that’s when I boil over!” I had observed both so knew what she meant.

So, to bring in my mother’s…

Conflict is at the heart of some of our best ideas and at the root of some of our worst failures. How can we improve our competence to make the best out of this inevitable part of our lives? During this show Tim Flanagan and Craig Runde will discuss how to improve cognitive, emotional, behavioral and normative skills required to manage conflict effectively. They will draw on stories and tips from their new book,…