May the 4th recently passed, a date playfully known as “Star Wars Day” thanks to the similar sound of “May the fourth be with you” and the iconic “May the Force be with you.” As many of you know, I enjoy using pop culture to illustrate conflict resolution concepts. Star Wars offers a fantastic lens […]
Negotiate Smarter: A Star Wars Lesson in Understanding Interests Read More »
AI is proving to be a valuable asset in many areas of our lives, and conflict resolution is no exception. It can help you articulate your feelings and needs clearly, even in the most challenging situations. By inputting a description of your conflict into a dedicated platform, like this one, AI can utilize Nonviolent Communication
AI: A Powerful Tool for Navigating Conflict Read More »
As an Ombuds, I often hear from managers struggling to navigate conflict within their teams. Recently, a friend confided in me about the quick tempers and communication breakdowns happening amongst his employees. While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, I offered some insights that can help anyone approach workplace conflict with a more empathetic and productive mindset.
Tame the Tension: 3 Ways Managers Can Approach Any Conflict Read More »
The Gossip Train is Ombuzz’s series of blog posts on all things gossip. We will explore the origins of gossip, why we gossip, the joys and dangers of gossip, and what you can do when gossip is not helpful! This post will focus on some unpleasantness associated with gossip and how gossip can lead to
The Gossip Train: A Vicious Cycle Read More »
Many of us would like to understand conflict better – whether it is to avoid, prevent, or navigate it more productively. One way to better understand conflict is to know what it is. In their book “Interpersonal Conflict,” Folger, Poole, and Stutman share a definition of conflict: I am going to break down the key
@Cudenverombuds Lisa Neale writes about dignity – how we can violate or stand up for other people’s dignity – and the benefits of standing up for others. #dignity
Be a Guardian of Dignity – For Yourself and For Others Read More »
@CUDenverOmbuds Melissa Connell discusses a fresh tool for knowing why we do what we do in conflict. By understanding our own tendencies and those of others, we can create a safe foundation for addressing conflict and moving towards management and resolution.
Understanding Why We Do What We Do Read More »
Getting to know Nonviolent Communication, Part 1 As a conflict resolution practitioner, I regularly see people reacting toward, withdrawing from, or attacking others when they feel they are in conflict. Then, when the other person responds either poorly, or not at all, to those tactics, the conflict escalates. It is amazing how ineffective these approaches
Getting What You Want Through Intentional Communication Read More »
Emotions are experiences. When someone says or does something that is personally significant to you, your emotions respond and you typically experience a physical feeling, thought, physiological change, and need to act. You literally feel emotions; you don’t just think them. Emotions can be positive or negative. Positive emotions are uplifting whereas negative emotions are
Embrace the Emotions: Five Core Concerns (Part 1 of 2) Read More »
Just about a year ago, I began to take particular notice of “when” and “how” requests and the moments that follow them. Right now, it feels especially important to consider them and the affect they have on us. When and how. Simple words, yet so complicated, full of commitment, and challenge that they often evoke
Adapting Fight, Flight, or Freeze Read More »