Apologies are hard. Many folks have a really hard time saying, “I am sorry.” Instead, they sort of apologize by saying something like “I am sorry it happened to you” or “I am sorry you feel that way” or just “Sorry.” What most folks do not realize is that these [Read More]
Recently, the Harvard Program on Negotiation posted a blog about “Emotional Intelligence as a Negotiating Skill” (By Katie Shonk- February 12, 2024). It noted that experts predicted that those scoring high on emotional intelligence would have better negotiated outcomes and discusses a 2015 study by researchers Kihwan Kim of Buena [Read More]
The other day, I opened one of the French doors in our house to let the dog outside where he proceeded to sun himself. Unbeknownst to me, a hummingbird took the open door as an invitation to come inside. I did not realize it until an hour or so later [Read More]
Anyone studying conflict resolution quickly learns that there are five styles to resolving conflicts: avoidance, competition, collaborating, accommodating and compromising (styles) Avoidance “… is knowing that there is a conflict but choosing not to deal with it.” (Id.) If we do not acknowledge or talk about the conflict, maybe it [Read More]
In his book, Influence- Science and Practice, Robert B. Cialdini (4th ed. Allyn and Bacon, Boston 2001) discusses six psychological principles that impact us every day. One of them is Commitment and Consistency: “ It is, quite, simply our desire to be and to appear consistent with what we [Read More]
Suppose you are mediating a divorce in which the wife agrees to accept 25% of the community assets in settlement even though a court would award her 50%. She wants the matter concluded as quickly as possible in the worst way and so will accept anything to be done with [Read More]
Last week I posted a blog discussing which standards in the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators might be the most important. While each of us, undoubtedly, has a different opinion, for fun I decided to ask ChatGPT how it would prioritize the standards. I did so, both from [Read More]
Last semester, one of my students took the wrong take home exam. So, I prepared a special make up exam which was simple yet required a lot of thought: Rank in terms of importance five of the nine model standards in the Model Standards of Conduct for Mediators and explain [Read More]
