How long does it take to get defensive? What kind of impact does it have? Sharon Ellison will demonstrate how to defuse defensiveness, often instantly, whether you are talking to a co-worker or are a manager needing to give feedback to an employee.

Sharon Strand Ellison is an international consultant, pioneer in the field of eliminating defensiveness and the author of Taking the War Out of Our Words. A nominee for the Leadership in a Changing World, Sharon has been a keynote speaker for the Texas Bar Association; The Center for Dispute Resolution, London, England; and The Smithsonian Institute. She has provided training for organizations in more than a dozen professions, including: Hewlett Packard, the US Department of Justice, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, and United Way.

More Information: Sharon Strand Ellison

Stephen Kotev is a Washington D.C. based conflict resolution consultant offering mediation, negotiation and facilitation services, conflict coaching, training and somatic education to private and government clients. He holds a Master of Science degree from George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. Stephen is a nationally recognized expert on how to maintain your performance under pressure and the Chair of the Association for Conflict Resolution’s Taskforce on Safety in ADR.