Anyone who has small children, had small children, or been around small children kjnows–the little ankle-biters are REALLY self-absorbed. I mean, sometimes I feel I could be bleeding-out after being hit by a truck only to look up and see my six-year old ask, “Mommy, you can’t die–who’s going to make dinner?!”

The good news is, most of us outgrow this. The bad news is, some of us don’t.

When it comes to conflict resolution, those of us who are still very self-absorbed…

Ever you ever thought about having a meeting while walking instead of sitting?

Possibly not.

Well, there’s research that might convince you that it’s a great idea.

A 2014 study by Stanford researchers found that walking boosts creativitywhile you are taking your stroll and for a short time thereafter.…

Ever you ever thought about having a meeting while walking instead of sitting?

Possibly not.

Well, there’s research that might convince you that it’s a great idea.

A 2014 study by Stanford researchers found that walking boosts creativitywhile you are taking your stroll and for a short time thereafter.…

I always enjoy having lunch with my friend, Andrea, because she’s been a “big boss” at a big company, and she always has lots of valuable insight about ways to resolve conflict at work (in fact, I wish she had been MY boss when I used to work full-time!).

Today’s conversation took a turn toward women in the workplace. Like many women who have children, I always felt like a “choice” had to be made: Either I continue to work full-time or quit. To be fair, when you work in T.V.…

Today marks the day that we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., a great man who was a champion of non-violent conflict resolution and tolerance.

My tribute to this remarkable leader is to share with you some of his quotes that resonated with me and are in the spirit of the Olive Branch Blog.

Please take a moment to reflect upon them today and…

I’ve learned a lot about Millenials lately. As a producer for a current events T.V. show, our next installment focuses on Millenials in the Workplace, and as a conflict resolution specialist, I took a keen interest in learning how Millenials handle conflict, especially in the workplace.

Turns out, they handle conflict differently than us Generation Xers or the Baby Boomers. One expert in the field told me he’s observed that Millenials try to handle more conflict on their own,…

A lot of us make resolutions regarding our health when a new year arrives. Losing weight or getting more exercise are often on that list.

But have you ever thought about changing your ways if you are the type of person who bottles up anger … only to explode later?

Many of us think that suppressing our angry emotions is a good thing to do. It creates less disruption and allows us to “move on” in a sort of artificial way.

But then eventually, it…

Don’t you just love the “animal” analogies that are so common in conflict resolution? I do. They help me remember how universal conflict really is–and make me take a step-back and examine how I approach my own conflict.

So, this animal analogy is about the skunk and the turtle, and here’s how you know which one you are:

You’re a skunk if you’re not afraid of conflict. In fact, when skunks are in conflict with someone, they tend to “stink up the place.” By that, I mean…

A hug and a wave. It’s these little gestures that impacted so many people.

These two stories were reported in the news this past weekend.

THE HUG LADY

The “Hug Lady” at Fort Hood passed away at 83 on Christmas Eve. Mrs. Elizabeth Laird, an Air Force veteran herself, …