How many of you have decided to lose 10 pounds by going on a strict diet and exercise regimen–only to realize you can’t possibly keep-up the discipline. Or, maybe you’ve decided to buy ONLY organic food, right down to the ketchup–only to learn that your bank account can’t keep up (I’ve actually tried this and failed).

When it comes to conflict resolution, the same rule applies: don’t over-shoot.

This New Year’s Eve, maybe it’s completely reasonable that you can only…

2015 is drawing to a close and it’s time to think about how to start 2016 with a fresh, new start.

I read a quote some time ago, that the hardest conversations to have are with someone you don’t agree with. So true.

Good conversations are not just for like-minded people though. Those are just the easier ones.

Our world seems to be a place where excluding others makes some feel ‘safer’. Where ridiculing people we don’t agree with is the new…

Merry Christmas Eve readers! For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful holiday. And, for those who celebrate another holiday, I hope you’re enjoying the day-off from work!

I thought I would write a post about mindset during the holidays because so many of us will be surrounded by family and friends, some of whom may instigate conflict for no apparent reason. I was inspired to write about this because a dear friend of mine is planning a vacation with…

Christmas is almost here. It’s the season of peace and yet the world doesn’t feel like a very peaceful place.

That’s why I decided to dedicate this blog post to peace and efforts to each children about peace in elementary school. The earlier the better in my book.

S.E. L. (social and emotional learning) is as important as…

As many of you may know (or, perhaps the news hasn’t traveled to the mainland, yet), we have a pretty serious Dengue Fever outbreak here in Hawaii. For now, it’s mostly contained to the Big Island, but the potential of widespread infection still looms. So, you can imagine many of us here in Hawaii are a little “on-edge!”

So, what does Dengue Fever have to do with conflict? The answer may surprise you.

As part of our public service (and my job as a producer), we at PBS…

Questions. The more I spend time in the field of conflict resolution, the more important they become to me.

That is why I attended a workshop entitled: Asking Questions that Matter – I’m always looking for another opportunity to share conflict resolutions techniques that are simple and don’t require a mediator.

I hope…

I have a dear friend who got a divorce about a year and a half ago, and by all accounts, it was one of the most amicable divorces on file. As part of keeping it amicable, they decided to “figure it out” when it came to visitation and custody. After all, they were still friends, and it shouldn’t be too hard to agree on who gets their son and when.

So far, it’s worked out. Except for a few bumps along the way (Christmas holiday travel, last-minute requests, grandparent…

December is like getting ready for a vacation. There are so many things to do before you leave for your destination … that the stressors can be high.

That’s how I sometimes feel in the weeks before Christmas. I want to find the perfect gifts for family and friends, mail all of my cards on time, attend holiday gatherings, bake cookies, trim the tree and so many more holiday activities. The time is so short and the list is sooo long.

It can create a…

Many of you probably know by now I’m a HUGE fan of working things out between individuals before getting a third party involved. But, when it comes to conflict in the workplace, when is it time to get Human Resources involved?

I’d love to provide you with a short-and-sweet answer. But, in truth, the answer is personal and subjective–and, it’s different in every case. Still, I’ve come up with a few ways to know it’s time to turn to your workplace HR department when you’re in…