Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

What’s Involved with Environmental Dispute Resolution

In this article by Professor Lawrence Susskind of MIT he presents ideas on this topic entitled Environmental Negotiations and 15 Things About Environmental Dispute Resolution.  The article was published by the Program on Negoti

Four Key Steps You Can Take to Improve Negotiation Skills

In this article from the Program on Negotiation from the Harvard Law School blog by Katie Shonk, she summarizes four key points from Northwestern University professor Leigh L.

Are You a Good Negotiator?

Asking this differently… are you a good driver?  Everyone believes they are a good driver, it’s the other drivers that have concerns.  I have found that asking others if they are good negotiators, the typical response is that they believe they are good negotiators or they would not have gotten to where they are.  The same concept holds.  In this blog I want to share some thoughts to make you a

How to Handle Crises Management

In my book, The Servant Manager, 203 tips from the best places to work in America, I offer a chapter with 5 tips on How to Manage in a Crises Environment.  However I was struck at the clear concise commentary offered by the free

So What's Happening at the IRS

Last week I shared on my blog “Lessons Learned from Recent Negotiations with the IRS on Examination”.    This was well received.  Since then I have received a host of emails and comments from various sources.  On my listing of over 4,200 contacts there are over 50 IRS employees.  Several IRS employees and

The IRS Commissioner has Warned Us

In this article from the Accounting Web the IRS Commissioner, John Koskinen, is letting Congress and us as taxpayers know tha

Lessons Learned from Recent Negotiations with the IRS on Examination

For those that follow this blog or subscribe to my monthly newsletter (4,200), you know that I offer information related to conflict resolution, neuroscience and leadership, and tax issues of interest.  Over the last 9 months I have been involved with several cases with the IRS that have ended in success and I want

How to Help Divergent Interest to Converge

Over the course of the last few weeks I have been introduced to a think tank in Washington DC that addresses major policy issues looking at long term relationships to address some of the most complex issues of our time.  This group is nonpartisan.  The group is the Convergence Center for Policy Resolution.  It was my pleasure to speak with Robert

How to Help Those Feeling Anxiety Today

The election is over.   About half of the country is depressed and half is feeling pretty good.  Among friends, relatives and work associates there can be a host of emotions right now.   Psychologically this can be very draining.  You or others may need some assistance.

In Negotiations We Incorrectly Make Assumptions

During negotiations often we assume the other party has the same or similar interests, intentions and desires that we do.   We make assumptions about the priorities of importance of issues that can have a significant impact on negotiating tradeoffs to reach a negotiated settlement.  Using stereotypes we prejudice outcomes and reduce the probabilities unnecessarily.  Those that view negotiations