Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

This is how to improve your day based on 10 tips from neuroscience

Do you want to feel better, be more productive and have more fun?  Researching some recent articles and blogs I wanted to share some great ideas with you. Here is a list of ten items of relatively simple activities that any of us could apply to improve our day. See if any of these may work for you. You don’t have to take on the entire list. See if one or two might work for you.  If any of these work for you simply write them down and test them out as action item(s) to improve your day.

This is how your bias impacts negotiations and conflict resolution

Cognitive bias is defined as “a systemic error in thinking that impacts one’s choices and judgments”. We are all shaped by our experiences good and bad. We learn from these experiences. However, we can also reinforce, learn from others, and teach ourselves things that are not true. When that happens, our thinking is impaired. This article focuses on how cognitive bias negatively impacts serious negotiations and conflict resolution. The article also offers what we can do about it.

Educate judiciously to take advantage of The Collaboration Effect

The Collaboration Effect TM enhances relationships, resources and revenues. It incorporates connecting relationships, actively listening, judiciously educating and negotiating closure.This article focuses on judiciously educating.

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.