Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

Disputes

Only seeing the hands and a table with two people across from each other and one pointing a pen down while holding a paper with writing on it in the other hand

July 24th, 2021

Do’s and Don’ts with tough Conversations

A difficult conversation can be something that makes you anxious or gives you stress. Everyone has difficult conversations The question is, what should you not do and what should you do when faced with a tough conversation. This could be personnel matter, a conduct issue, a reprimand, a transfer, a termination, or any of a host of difficult conversations. As an author that specializes in conflict resolution and collaboration, here are some observations to help you.

Older gentleman holding a picture of himself, son, and granchilc

July 14th, 2021

Addressing family strife with the transfer of the family business

As a qualified mediator that focuses on business valuation issues, I have been brought in many times to assist with conflicts associated with business valuation and family succession issues, when things do not necessarily go as planned. This article focuses on common problems and ways in which a qualified neutral familiar with business valuation can help the parties through this emotional and stressful time. Various parties offer expertise to assist with the process, but in the end a qualified neutral familiar with this process, valuation, and mediation can help resolve painful issues timely with far less emotional and physical resources expended.

Man talking on the phone looking away from us

June 6th, 2021

This is how to resolve remote conflicts at work

With people working remotely the opportunity for miscommunication, misunderstanding, and conflict is greater. Avoiding these types of conflicts and addressing these types of conflicts appropriately and timely is key to promote alignment and collaboration. What follows explores the situation and provides some insights to help you in these situations.

A blue thumbs up "me" and red thumbs down "them"

May 24th, 2021

This is how can you collaborate with people you do not like at work

You may have to work with someone you don not like. So how can you work with difficult people, overcome any disputes or conflicts, and work collaboratively with one another? This may involve listening, empathy, and leadership on your part. This may involve some self-examination to see if maybe you might be part of the problem. This article explores a number of areas for you to consider so that can work collaboratively with people you do not like. In the end we all have to sometimes work with people we would really rather not have to work with, but the task has to be completed and you going to have work this with that person. So now what do you do?

An image of man and a woman on opposite sides of a table and in place of heads they have megaphones yelling at each other

May 10th, 2021

This is how you persuade the unpersuadable

“Many ideas grow better when transplanted into another mind than the one they sprang up” Oliver Wendell Holmes This quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes is directly on point to the subject of this commentary. Do you have to work with arrogant, egotistical, narcissistic, controlling, or disagreeable people? Then read on. Collaboration is key. Address conflict. The ideas presented here are based on neuroscience and psychology with direct actionable alternatives you can apply at work and in life.

Frustrated guy with his smart phone to his ear and his other hand on his forehead while he is looking at his laptop

April 25th, 2021

How much is the high cost of unmanaged conflict costing your organization

Unmanaged conflict has a significant impact on morale, turn over, and the bottom line. What if you could collaborate constructively instead? Conflicts, disputes, conflict resolution, dispute resolution and healing are key elements to address for effective leadership. Exploring the costs, employees leaving, ongoing implications, your challenges as a leader, and the implications on trust, are things you can address going forward. This article takes a fresh look at this issue and provides you with tools to help you, your team, and your organization. By managing conflict, it is possible to reduce wasted resources, enhance relationships, and be more profitable.

four fist bumps over a table with coffee, smart phones and papers. The four fist bumps represent men, women, and people of color

April 17th, 2021

Take advantage of The Collaboration Effect

I would like to explain the three elements of The Collaboration Effect to address both conflicts and collaboration. Is conflict blocking your results? Would you like to be more productive, more profitable, and have more pleasure? Then you will want to take advantage of The Collaboration Effect by connecting relationships, listening actively, and educating judiciously to build bridges and negotiate closure. The Collaboration Effect enhances relationships, resources, and results. In other words, by taking advantage of The Collaboration Effect you will be better as a person, your firm will perform better, you will be able to interact better with difficult people, and you will have better results with others with improved collaboration.

Six parties on different screens to interact on a mediation

April 12th, 2021

This is how to build trust in virtual mediations

Trust is simply a “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.”[i] Relationships are built on trust. This is hard enough in face-to-face disputes where one can hear the words, imply understanding with the tone, and interpret full body and facial expressions. With virtual mediations there are technical, administrative, interpersonal, and other issues that further hamper a clear understanding. These can undermine trust. The question is how can you build trust with virtual mediations? This article addresses three issues for your consideration regarding virtual mediations. [i] https://search.yahoo.com/search?fr=mcafee&type=C211US0D20151102&p=Define...

A glass of red wine half full with the upper of the glass half labeled full and the lower half labeled empty

March 21st, 2021

Attitude in conflicts and collaboration matters

So much of what you do and say is shaped in part by your own attitude. In disputes and conflicts on the negative side and with collaboration and alignment on the positive side, attitude matters. In society today you see racial strife, uncertain economics, covid-19, less human touch, additional stress, and many other issues, it is amazingly easy to see the downside. On the upside with working from home, not having to commute, connecting virtually, spending more time at home, and having more time to concentrate on other things do you take time to reflect on what you are grateful for? Your attitude is key for so many of life’s twists and turns. This commentary explores your attitude and how you can impact your attitude towards conflict and collaboration

2 story apartment building with balconies

March 5th, 2021

Collaborative negotiations with landlords and tenants

When you think of disputes between landlords and tenants the natural tendency is to think of rent payments not being paid and the landlord wanting the money. After all the landlord has bills to pay too. However, there can be a host of issue and a number of perspectives. Having mediated hundreds of these disputes I want to share with you some thoughts during these more unusual times.

Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

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