I have a lot of personal experience with transition–I’ve lived in eight states (including the “foreign” island state of Hawaii and two countries), and I can say with certainty that, however exciting change can be, it’s also extraordinarily stressful.

Currently, our family is in the midst of another transition–preparing for our (hopefully) FINAL move in just a few months. And, I’m reminded again of how our “normal” personalities seem to disappear and our…

I have a lot of personal experience with transition–I’ve lived in eight states (including the “foreign” island state of Hawaii and two countries), and I can say with certainty that, however exciting change can be, it’s also extraordinarily stressful.

Currently, our family is in the midst of another transition–preparing for our (hopefully) FINAL move in just a few months. And, I’m reminded again of how our “normal” personalities seem to disappear and our…

The program focuses on Zingerman’s Community of Businesses and its philosophies and Customer Complaint Process. The businesses include the original business, Zingerman's Delicatessen, plus Zingerman’s Bakehouse, Creamery, Catering,…

"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].…

I can’t tell you haw many times I hear this before a mediation: “Well, I’ll come … but I really don’t think we can come to ad agreement.”

And you know what?

More often than not, this person , who was so resolute about their prediction of a mediation outcome was … to but it simply … WRONG!!

So, why do people view the prospects of a positive outcome so poorly? Well here are some of my thoughts on that:

First, they are the ones embroiled…

It’s been pretty dreary here in Chicago, this winter. Which, in our family, means movie season!

So, I dragged the kids to see “Into the Woods,” and it didn’t disappoint (but, that’s besides the point!). In the movie, the adult characters repeat the same mantra to “Little Red Riding Hood,” which is “nice doesn’t always mean good.”

I’m sure the screenwriters didn’t expect the mediator in the audience (me) to ponder what he meant for the next hour and…

Disputes have existed as long as there have been people. Ways to resolve disputes have also existed just as long. But now, technology has made some of the oldest ways to resolve disputes new again and better than ever! Now you can settle differences with other people or businesses without ever leaving your home, office or business.

Mark Norych manages…

If mediation is supposed to be about self-determination, where does evaluation fit in?  It doesn't.  Read the latest blog post about it here.

"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].…

Today, we celebrate and honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an amazing man who advanced the African-American Civil Rights Movement through non-violent civil disobedience.

How surprised and sad I was when I read that his children are embroiled in a legal battle over Dr. King’s  personal Bible and his Nobel Peace Prize medal (which he was awarded in October of 1964). They are expected…

I’ve always been a sucker for “Freakonomics” type books, and I recently read one that, frankly, opened my eyes quite a bit. Titled, “The Why Axis,” this book is all about the data behind certain myths. And, the authors tackled one of the biggest myths out there: Women aren’t as competitive as men.

The idea that women are inherently less competitive as men is something I’ve wondered about ever since my first child was born. She is…

Mystery shopping can help companies avoid conflict - and negative customer experiences - before it becomes an issue. If you've ever found yourself wondering if mystery shopping is too good to be true, join us in a discussion with Rich Bradley, MSPA-NA Board President to learn the facts. Rich Bradley will explain what mystery…

"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].…

I hope I haven’t put off all of the potential readers of this post who are men … because of the picture I chose. Believe me … this post applies to you too. And I bet a lot of women would agree with me.

So, here’s what happened.

I have been going to the same hairdresser for several years now. And most of the time, it seems like we communicate pretty well.

I’m not one of those people who makes dramatic hair color changes but I do have to cover up those…

Unfortunately, I cannot attend. But, I would have enjoyed hearing his perspective (I always do). He is extremely engaging and above all, his detailed and descriptive storytelling is beyond interesting and the way he speaks is very personal.

 …

The Ombudsman for Public Education in Washington DC is accepting applications for its first cohort of fellows.  The Ombudsman Fellows will "work directly with families, learn about the education system in DC, learn about conflict resolution, develop creative problem solving skills, and develop expertise on issues including special education, student discipline, truancy, and bullying prevention."  The part-time, year-long…

I knew it would happen: Just a week after all three of my children came down with the flu, I found myself with a fever, chills, and laid up in bed.And, we all know what that means–junk T.V.! Well, I happened to turn on “Girlfriends’ Guide to Divorce,” and, as you probably guessed, it’s about divorce. In one episode, the main character and her husband decided to go through divorce mediation. However, after mentioning this to a friend, who shows up but the friend’s…

Customers and traders have much more balanced relationship now than in the past, due to the role of social media and customer reviews. The key role of online social media forces traders to actively engage in partner dialogue with their customers. Customers will…

"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].…