To be clear at the outset, this isn’t a book about conflict, at least not in the sense that I am usually discussing. However, it is a book about conflict about language and how we use it. And as language is one of our primary tools in conflict and how we manage it, you could […]
I don’t usually review PhD theses, but this one caught my attention and has some really interesting ideas. In her thesis, Emily comes up with some persuasive arguments to explain the conundrum that there is a high social need for conflict resolution services, but low market demand. She identifies practitioners’ assumptions, expectations and knowledge about
I recently reviewed the book Elastic by Leonard Mlodinow and have been thinking more about his discussion on how we understand what someone is saying to us. He explains that when you are listening to someone speak, rather than trying to decide the meaning of each word as it is spoken, your brain keeps the
The power of slowing down communication Read More »
I first came across the concept of liminal spaces when I was doing my Narrative Coach training with Dr David Drake. He talks about liminal spaces and thresholds between stages in his coaching model. These are “in between” spaces in which the client has the opportunity to make a choice to move into a new
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: Liminal thinking by Dave Gray. Read More »
In this book, Professor Michael Norton merges his expertise in social psychology and behavioural economics to explore rituals, and how people use and experience rituals in their day-to-day lives. This includes everyday rituals far beyond the kinds of religious rituals that might first come to mind. The book asks what rituals do, for ourselves, our
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: The Ritual Effect by Michael Norton Read More »
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Between April and July 1994, and estimated 800,000 to million people were killed and an upward of 350,000 women were raped. As an internally recognised expert on sexual violence committed during the genocide and on transitional justice initiatives that dealt
In my work with clients in conflict, I constantly find that they have missed many opportunities to manage conflict more effectively. In particular, they often fail to set appropriate boundaries (or ANY boundaries) to allow themselves to be at their best in conflict situations. Boundaries are a fundamental part of preventing unnecessary conflict, and managing
Boundaries in conflict Read More »
This book is all about how we influence others, and how other people influence us. It is full of fascinating information, case studies and practical strategies. The chapters cover how our existing information impacts on our willingness to change our minds, the role of emotion, incentives and curiosity, the double-edged sword of agency, the impact
WHAT I’VE BEEN READING: The Influential Mind by Tali Sharot Read More »
When we look at how people typically promote conflict-related services like mediation, the services are often presented as a better option than other alternatives. In fact, this thinking is even found in the name “alternative dispute resolution”. However, psychological research shows that using scare tactics to try to motivate someone to do something tends not
Motivating people to engage in conflict resolution services Read More »
This book is a wealth of information and resources about how our brains work in conflict and how to work with them during conflict management and resolution. It includes well-researched and accessible content, as well as links to videos and other useful resources. The book introduces readers to foundational concepts in neuroscience, cognitive psychology, personality
