I have heard several judges talk about the value of mediation. And most often it’s about the benefits of having parties sit down prior to going to court and coming to an agreement. Sure … this saves the court time and money and opens up the calendar for cases that really need to be litigated.

I have also heard some judges say…

Thank goodness for second chances! If no one gave me a second chance (in relationships, at work, etc.), I sometimes wonder where I would be. So, it’s always shocking to me how many people I meet don’t believe in second chances–at all.I find this especially common in parenting. When I met with families who were having parenting struggles, one common theme popped up again and again: many parents don’t give their children a second chance to prove _______(fill in the…

This isn’t a blog about golf – I promise. So, non-golfers, please keep reading.

I was at a birthday party chatting with the teenage daughter of a colleague. We were having a lively discussion about golf and she was telling me that she had joined a league and was really enjoying it.

I was a little jealous because I know in my heart that doing the same would be one great way to improve my ailing handicap. OK – the truth is, I don’t even have…

You won’t read any parenting book without reading the words, “testing boundaries.” I promise. It’s one of the parenting industry’s favorite phrases, and it refers to (usually) a child who is pushing his limits to see when Mom or Dad will stand their ground.

But, did you know we really NEVER outgrow the behavior? Even as adults, many of us push boundaries in our intimate relationships, friendships, and at work.…

I send a lot of e-mails and this observation in research conducted by Kristin Byron (as reported in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology) fascinates me.

Regardless of the sender’s intention, the recipient of an e-mail interprets it pretty differently.

If the sender thinks its positive, the receiver feels its neutral.

If the sender thinks its neutral, the receiver feels its negative.…

As a former reporter in a high-pressure newsroom, I couldn’t help but be horrified a few weeks ago, when a disgruntled ex-news employee shot and killed a reporter and videographer live on T.V.

It shook me to the core, not just because of the tragic circumstances, but also because I remember working alongside many a disgruntled employee in the newsroom and wondering, “will this person hurt me or someone else?” In one instance, I thought a videographer was going to kill me.…

Tomorrow, I am celebrating my 20th year in Nevada.

It was in 1995, on the day after Labor Day, that I dropped my mom off at the airport before I drove to work for my first day at a new job in a new city – over 2,700 miles from “home.”

Was it exciting? Sure it was.

Was it scary? Absolutely.

I didn’t know a soul in Reno.…

We mediators love to talk about “collaboration” and “compromise,” but what’s the difference between the two? And, moreover, which one is better when you’re in the midst of a conflict?

I read a story recently that illustrated the difference beautifully: Two sisters had one orange, and each of them wanted it. The older sister claimed she should get it because she’s older. The younger sister thought she should get the orange because she’s younger. They decided…