Shock and dismay are the best words I can use to describe my initial response to the news that a United Airlines flight from Newark to Denver had been diverted to Chicago due to a dispute between … [Read more...]
Accept and Acknowledge Feelings to De-Escalate Conflicts
A common reason that conflicts escalate is the perception of threat one or both parties see in the conflict escalation cycle. Taking an action that makes you non-threatening to the other person is a … [Read more...]
Change Management Lessons: Surprise Breeds Inaction
Life lessons sometimes hit me in a delayed fashion. Reflecting on two experiences in my life – separated by about two years – reminded me of a valuable lesson for leaders of organizations facing … [Read more...]
One Way to Head Off a Conflict: Manage Expectations
A little over a week ago, my wife and I drove our daughter from Indiana to Texas to begin her freshman year of college. On the return trip, we drove through Oklahoma. As is common this time of year, … [Read more...]
Learning to Embrace Messiness
Sometimes, life gets messy — as shown by the picture of the living area in my home this morning. When I first walked through this area on my way to get a cup of coffee and some breakfast, I felt a … [Read more...]
Conflict Resolution Tips: See Others Fairly
In conflict situations, many of us struggle to maintain a fair and objective perspective about the other person. We assign all kinds of bad motives and intentions to their behaviors before we slow … [Read more...]
