Category Archives: Conflict Coaching

An element of conflict is a good thing

Posted on January 3, 2010 by Alden

In the 1950 movie Harvey, Jimmy Stewart, playing the main character Elwood P. Dowd, makes the comment “An element of conflict in any discussion is a very good thing. Shows everybody’s taking part, and nobody left out. “ What makes … Continue reading →

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What’s in your fridge?

Posted on January 1, 2010 by Alden

There seems to be a rule in many households (like ours) that leftovers are not to be thrown out until they’re moldy or otherwise inedible.  We will leave the container for several days, telling ourselves that “someone will eat this,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Churches and other Non-Profit Groups, Conflict Coaching, Mediation | 1 Comment

Rules of Engagement

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Alden

Many of us are familiar with the concept of Rules of Engagement in a military or police setting, specifying when and how to use force in a given situation.  I think the concept is also applicable in a more generalized … Continue reading →

Posted in Conflict Coaching | 1 Comment

Resolution is Not Always the Goal

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Alden

Today John Kenyon posted a list of mediation jokes at the Mediate.com site. Most of them weren’t that funny, and as he points out, might not be funny at all to people who didn’t understand mediation principles and language.  The … Continue reading →

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Are commercial friendships resulting in a loss of conflict management and relationship skills?

Posted on October 20, 2009 by Alden

I love to hang out at Starbucks and write – in fact, I’m sitting at Starbucks as I write this.  As I left the house, I joked to my wife, “I love going to Starbucks because everyone there likes me.” … Continue reading →

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