A bored and lonely looking child picked berries one-by-one from my front hedge and mechanically ground each into the pile of snow I’d just swept from the public walk. In a ‘normal’ year, I might have given a short lesson about birds depending on berries in winter, or asked the child to not crush berry-stained snow into the sidewalk. One year into the pandemic, I let the small member of Generation COVID have that twenty minutes of entertainment. Conflict Competence for physically distanced children As I’m fond of saying, conflict… Read more Tips for Teaching Conflict Competence to Physically Distanced Children →
Alternative to resolutions Could you summarize in a sentence what you’ve learned from your life’s work, or a relationship, special interest or hobby? I decided to try that instead of… Read more Conflict Mental Maps →
Words are words, right? Wouldn’t you assume that using words was a skill transferable from one career to another? With words, I manage conflict and write. Yet, switching from Conflict Manager to writer… Read more Updating a useful metaphor →
Be more conflict competent, whether to prevent or manage a conflict, or prepare for the next conflict, even though emotions run high and feelings are hurt.
Rob Ford, 1969-2016 I wrote a post nominating Rob Ford as a guru during the height of the wreckage he wrought at Toronto City Hall. Rob Ford’s leadership offers all kinds of lessons, so that post still applies, and I repost it now in his memory. Perhaps it applies south of the Canadian border as well, to another constituency of angry, alienated voters.
What is it about regret? Regret has quite the reputation. Dictionaries shove regret in with remorse, apology and disappointment. For years I accepted this connotation and have been regret avoidant, determined to live without… Read more Does regret deserve another chance? →
Deborah Sword 