Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

This is how to make your life amazing

From the bestselling author, Eric Barker, Barking up the Wrong Tree, I wanted to share with you his blog on This is how to make your life amazing: In short he offers these five points for your consideration: “"Career Wellbeing": Be engaged. Use your strengths. Hide from your boss. "Social Wellbeing": Spend time with the good people, not with the bad people. "Financial Wellbeing": Usually it's not about how much you have, it's about how you feel about what you have. Increasing the prior two factors prevents you from negatively comparing yourself to others. "Physical Wellbeing": Exercise, eat right and get your sleep, obviously. As we all know in our heart of hearts, feeling sexy is important. Restaurant choices can matter more than food choices. "Community Wellbeing": Helping others helps you. Therefore, helping me helps you. Why don't you call more often?

This is how to be happy at work and life

hen we are happier at work, we are more engaged, more productive and we have a sense of purpose. In short there is no one right answer, because we all define happiness a little differently, but with a shift in our thinking we can have a sense of purpose, be engaged, have greater resilience, and be kinder to others.

Want to Conquer Sleep and Reduce Conflict?

Focusing on conflict resolution and collaboration I have found one of the keys for decision makers to make great decisions has to do with having enough sleep. This blog provides two very good resources for you if you are having trouble getting enough sleep. With the right amount of sleep, you will be less irritable, and you will be able to see the world in a more positive light. This can lead to less conflict and help you see more opportunities for collaboration.

When You Foster Creativity You Can Produce Fantastic Results

Fostering creativity at work can produce some pretty fantastic results. This article focuses on creativity and offers some creative ways to promote this process at work. Last month I had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Araela Kumaraea, an Assistant Professor at the University of Minnesota at the annual Conflict Resolution Minnesota Conference in St. Paul for mediators. She shared some ideas that we practiced in class. Upon reflection and a little research, I wanted to offer you some ideas too.

What are the right kind of questions to ask in a negotiation?

In a negotiation each party enters into the negotiation with a position and series of interests. How we explore those interests goes a long way towards reaching a mutually acceptable alternative with the other party. Asking key questions appropriately makes a real difference in the outcome.

How the Science of a Meaningful Life Can Impact Your Vocation

As we start a new year, it pays to reflect on how we make a difference in our vocation and what we may want to do differently with the start of this new year.  This article explains how.

This is Why Emotions Matter in Negotiations

Our brains are 98% and 2% rationale and yet we approach negotiations as if they are to be rationally resolved. This article focuses on your emotions and their emotions and how to address diffusing your and their emotions to focus on facts, issues, feelings and interests to work towards a resolution around particular issues.

This is Why Values Matter in Negotiations

In negotiations the parties have positions and negotiators ask questions to determine interests, but what happens when the real underlying issues resolve around values? As a set of general rules it is a good idea to “consider interests and values separately, engage in relationship building dialogue, appeal to overreaching values, and confront valued differences directly” according to the consensus building institute. The link offers several good examples. I would like to explore these four steps with you regarding a personal situation of mine recently. Keep in mind not all situations have a happy ending.

Negotiations, the Brain and Stress Part II

This is the second blog with Part I having been issued October 23, 2017 at mikegreg.com/blog. Just the thought of negotiations can cause stress. More recent articles from neuroscientists provide some insights on what we can do to address stress proactively before, during and after a negotiation to minimize threats. Last week this blog focused on attitude, preparation and trying to be friendly. This week the focus is on clearing the mind of worry, balance and emotional charged negotiations.