One of the ways many of us deal with interpersonal conflict as soon as we get a whiff of it or it begins to evolve is to take flight. We may want to rise above it and just get away from any of the related tension. Or, we may fear a range of repercussions such as harsh words, upset, hostility, ongoing negativity, and so on. These and other reasons lead many of us to flee!

It takes courage to be in conflict and it takes courage to know when to walk or run away from it, too. A pattern of…

Fighting with others is not a necessary part of being in conflict, though for many people these are synonymous. The inclination to fight is one reaction when we are having an interpersonal disagreement with another person. The situation, the person, the stakes, the degree we perceive the offense, and so on are variables that determine which approach we take when provoked and the extent to which we react. However, it is likely that certain behaviours we have come to use routinely, such as…

Federal Court Judge Hon. James Ware (Ret.) Joins JAMS

September 5, 2012

San Francisco – JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, today announced the addition of Hon. James Ware (Ret.) to its panel. Most recently Judge Ware served as the chief judge of the Northern District of California and will be based in the JAMS San Francisco Resolution Center. Judge Ware will serve as an arbitrator, mediator and…

As ADR practitioners, Organizational Ombuds generally follow practices that would be familiar to other neutrals, especially mediators.  However, as employees of the organizations which they serve, Ombuds must be careful not to be seen as agents for notice.  As laws and regulations change, organizations must ensure that their Ombuds program remains relevant, but not a liability.  A recent example of this is seen at the University of North Carolina.

Timed to coincide with the start of…

]

Most of us go about thinking that life happens to us, that conflict is a negative event, and that our reactions are not under our conscious control. In this conversation with Judy Ringer, author, trainer, conflict coach, and Aikido black belt, we'll discuss how life events, troublesome people, and difficult problems can be gifts that help us strengthen relationships,…

Veteran ADR Specialist Tim Corcoran, Esq. Joins JAMS

September 4, 2012

Ontario, Calif. – JAMS, the largest private provider of mediation and arbitration services worldwide, today announced the addition of Tim Corcoran, Esq. to its panel. Mr. Corcoran will be based in the JAMS Inland Empire Resolution Center. He will serve as an arbitrator and mediator in a variety of disputes including Business/Commercial, Employment, Insurance, Personal…

In the latest blog post of the Institute for the Study of Conflict Transformation, transformative mediators describe how their has affected them personally.  You can read the whole post here.

Hi all -

See this  call for chapters published by Sam Edwards, longtime Cyberweek participant, for his book on "Revolutionizing the Interaction Between State and Citizens through Digital Communications"

http://bit.ly/MIhcX9

]

What fuels bullying? Why do kids bully, and how can we help them stop? On this segment we'll be providing answers to these questions along with effective tools you can use at home and in schools.

Find out:

- The difference between conflict and bullying

- The number one reason kids bully

- Other factors that can fuel bullying

- How to help kids manage…

Work it (out)! Mediation Training Amidst Fabulous Fall Fashions…

“The Texas Conflict Coach® Radio Blog Show” September Series

The Texas Conflict Coach® Blog Talk Radio show announces the following shows starting

in the month of September, held every Tuesday night from 7:00-7:30 pm CST/8:00-8:30 pm EST. 

To participate, either go to the designated…

Folks, here's an article in the big fat fall fashion edition of ELLE magazine...about New York Peace Institute's Mediation Training. Bob Morris, author of Assisted Loving, recently took our training, and put it to good use on the homefront with his hubby, Ira.

GIVE PEACE A CHANCE

Bob Morris had an anger problem, in his marriage and his life. Could mediation—typically used to resolve conflict as…

Many kids don't know "the language of social success" -- how to send and receive nonverbal communication that helps them make friends and manage their social relationships. They are often isolated and targeted for teasing and bullying. We can help you to identify these children and give you resources to teach them how to use nonverbal communication more effectively.

Tricia Jones is a Professor of Education at Temple University in…

From Foreignpolicy.com: 

The seven deadly sins of mediation

Lakhdar Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister and veteran U.N. trouble-shooter, was appointed lead mediator for Syria on Friday, placing the 78-year-old diplomat at the forefront of international efforts to head off a lengthy civil war in Syria.

Brahimi…

The 7 Deadly Sins of Mediation

Lakhdar Brahimi, the former Algerian foreign minister and veteran U.N. trouble-shooter, was appointed lead mediator for Syria on Friday, placing the 78-year-old diplomat at the forefront of international efforts to head off a lengthy civil war in…

The American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution has created an Ombuds Task Force "to explore the feasibility of offering ombuds services as an ABA Member Benefit." Bennett Feigenbaum and Peter Scarpato have been appointed to co-chair the group, but other members have not been identified.  One of their first tasks will be developing a mission statement and an action…

The professional association for Organizational Ombuds is seeking speaker presentation proposals and topic suggestions for the IOA 8th Annual Conference taking place April 21-24, 2013 at the Hyatt Regency Miami in Miami, FL.

Each year, IOA hosts an annual conference to promote the Ombuds profession, provide relevant educational content and offer enriching networking…

Community Mediation, Inc. in Hamden, CT has been working in the New Haven and Hamden schools to train youth to be peer mediators for many years.  Most of our work is funded by grants and some funds from the Board of Education.  Sadly, those funds don't allow us to purchase something that would allow the mediators to stand out from other students.  No safety badges, t-shirts, or even buttons that tell students who the mediators are.  We are hoping you will help us change that.

We…

What is an organizational ombudsman? Tune in and listen to Linda Falkson and Adam Kleinbergerfrom the Cornell University Ombudsman Office, as they talk about how their office helps people regarding a problem or conflict, as part of the caring community serving students, faculty and staff. They offer an explanation of the ethical principles that guide their work-- independence, neutrality, confidentiality and informality and how they are helpful to those that…