Thoughts and Insights by Michael Gregory

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a host of faces in space connected with organizational lines
October 5th, 2020

What actions can you take to redefine collaboration now?

With Covid-19 various entities have had to redefine what is meant by collaboration in the workpla
A two man bobsled taking off out of the starting gate
September 28th, 2020

This is how emotional triggers affect you in a negotiation

Your attitude in a negotiation is key. Your attitude determines how you may react to triggers during a negotiation. Do you think this will be successful or not? Likely your attitude will assist you in reaching that conclusion. If you don’t think it will be successful, it won’t. If you do think it will be successful the chances are it will. What can you do to ensure you have the right attitude and to make sure that if the other party hits your hot button that you won’t sabotage or that they won’t sabotage the negotiation?
Alberta Canada reflection of sky and mountains on lake
September 22nd, 2020

Apply the art of de-escalation to a conflict

Have you ever been in a conflict with someone about something and wanted to either prevent the situation from escalating, tone down the rhetoric, or wanted to de-escalate a tense situation? There are ways to address each of these types of situations. Ideas are presented here. From the book Peaceful Resolutions Chapter two focuses on The Art of De-escalation. Elements of that chapter are being offered here to help with each of these three situations.
Scrabble letters spelling diversity on a background of turned over scrabble blocks
September 13th, 2020

How can firms increase diversity among equity partners and team members?

Reading an article recently in the ABA Journal by Maria Antonieta Sager and her journey to become a partner as a woman of color attorney, and networking with Dr. Artika Tyner, the Director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice at the University of St. Thomas Law School,  after Dr. Arika Tyner read Maria Antonieta Sager’s article, I wanted to share with you some insights that help me and I think may help you with this title question.
Key words with Ethics in the center surrounded by other related words
September 7th, 2020

Are women more ethical than men in negotiations?

Recently the Harvard Law School Program on Negotiation provided an article on this subject entitl
Two caricatures of faces. One red and one blue each looking the opposite way
August 31st, 2020

This is how to overcome your conflicts

The Collaboration Effect® is all about connecting relationships, listening actively, and educating judiciously in order to build bridges to negotiate closure. This is a core statement. Although many blogs have been offered through this site relating to the application of The Collaboration Effect with the IRS, estate planning, exit planning, working with difficult people and in many other areas at my blog site, I want to take this opportunity to spend a little more time on each of these elements of The Collaboration Effect. This commentary is a little more detailed than any of the other blogs, but is still simply an introduction to the topic.
A mansion with many rooms and a big garage
August 24th, 2020

This is how to interact with an IRS Estate and Gift Tax Attorney on a valuation issue

It was my pleasure to be interviewed by Melissa Gragg, the Managing Partner at Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC, via her pod cast on this topic. For those not interested in listening to a nearly 90 minute podcast with lots of details, here is a much shorter seven minute version sound bites on LinkedIn. However, for those looking for a quick read on some of the key points this may help. We discussed over a dozen questions and additional follow up questions, but here are some of the key points.
Colorful air balloon in a blue sky with two clouds
August 17th, 2020

Exit Planning with The Collaboration Effect

If there ever was a profession where The Collaboration Effect® made sense it is in exit planning. Instead of individual specialists reaching out to a potential client wanting to exit a business, think about if they worked together and what a better result there would be for the client. This past week it was my pleasure to address the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) Twin Cities Chapter at the invitation of the Chapter President Julie Keyes and to meet the incoming Chapter President Mark Hegrstrom. I presented Collaboration for Exit Planners – Applying The Collaboration Effect®. They were very receptive and I appreciated their glowing recommendations. Here are some of the key points. We can all learn from this example.
Man in suit pointing at clear screen where the button he is pointing at says audit
August 7th, 2020

Begin an Audit with the IRS with Collaboration

When you think of collaboration quite likely the IRS does not come to mind. Rather when you hear the term IRS you are not thinking of working together. Instead the thought of an IRS audit likely brings forth thoughts of anxiety, I don’t have time for this, why me and now what? With that in mind I thought explaining some basic tips after receiving an audit letter from the IRS may help. Especially as these tips relate to The Collaboration Effect. After all the IRS are people too.
IRS symbol with IRS - blue background and white symbol and lettering
August 3rd, 2020

IRS, Business Valuers, Adjustments and Preventative Approaches

On July 1, 2020 it was my pleasure to be interviewed by Melissa Gragg, CVA, MAFF, CDFA and Managing Partner at Bridge Valuation Partners, LLC. This 84 minute podcast is packed many ideas of how to avoid and what to do if audited by the IRS on an estate or gift tax return. For business valuers this commentary focuses on the most common adjustments by IRS Business Valuers and what you might want to consider to both avoid an audit and what to do if audited. What does this have to do with The Collaboration Effect® you may ask. Read on. Clearly not everything in that podcast can be presented here, but some of the key highlights can be. The purpose of this commentary is to focus on one of the questions from that podcast. That is: What are the most common adjustments by IRS Business Valuers.

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