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Archive for Communication

31 Oct

Happy Anniversary! Reflections on My First Five Years in Business

On International Conflict Resolution day in October, 2013, I launched Progressive Conflict Solutions.

And by launch, I mean I sent a pretty email to a few hundred of my friends. It showed off a simple website I built myself (it’s been replaced), a logo I lovingly crafted with a designer friend (I still love it), and my vision for providing conflict resolution services. That vision included the hope that clients would leave with “a greater sense of peace, focus, and competence, which [would] help them reach their personal and professional goals.”

Five years later, that’s still my vision. I hope I’ve delivered on it!

I’m grateful for the families, businesses, and organizations that have entrusted me with their challenging conflicts and wishes for better conflict skills. Our work together has resulted in smoother running businesses, mended friendships, newlyweds with clear and non-divisive pre-nups, and siblings at peace with their mutual decisions about caring for their elderly parents. But closest to my heart, are the families that have uncoupled with dignity, respect, and an eye toward a healthy future. I’m honored to have held space for all of you during difficult times, supported you in making informed decisions, and watched you find clarity and optimism about where you want to go and how to get there.

I look forward to the next five years of helping you navigate your bumps and find your path.

Articles Bits Blog Blogs & Bits Communication Conflict conflict coaching Conflict Resolution Skills Divorce Divorcing Featured
22 Feb

Two Conflict Competence Workshops Offered This Spring

I’m offering two full day workshops from the Building Conflict Competence series this spring with one big change: both workshops will be offered on a pay-what-you-can basis. Previous workshops have been (affordably) priced at $60 each or two for $100, but now you can decide what payment works for you. Past attendees will tell you that the lessons in each workshop are invaluable in all parts of their lives. I hope you will consider joining me.

REAL TALK WITHOUT BURNING BRIDGES, Saturday, March 10, 9:30-4

LISTENING: A SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOP, Saturday, April 28, 9:30-4

Both workshops employ a combination of lecture, exercises, experiential activities, and take-away practices and are part of the Building Conflict Competence Series. The schedule includes a lunch break. Participants provide their own lunch. There are many dining options in easy walking distance. REGISTER

Location: 24 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063 (look for the orange and black HeadRoom awning). The space is located on the second floor and access is by steps only.

REAL TALK WITHOUT BURNING BRIDGES

It’s a tough time for real talk. Our political climate is divisive and often uncivil and it’s bleeding into all parts of our lives. So, how to do you engage in civil dialogue and real talk when you are not in agreement? You can learn how and apply it at work, home, social settings, or any where else and do it without burning bridges. What does one learn in a workshop on dialogue? Well, in this one, you learn:
  • A lot about listening
  • A lot about effective questions usually coming from a place of curiosity
  • An overview of what research has shown to change people’s minds and what does not change people’s minds
  • An overview of cognitive bias
  • What we can do to encourage people to listen to us
  • Strategies to manage our internal challenges in dialogue (be it internal dialogues, biases, a choking lump in your throat, fear, a heart that beats so fast you don’t know how you can do it, developing courage, etc.)
  • Regular practices that help built skills and capabilities
  • And more   (NOTE: This workshop was previously titled Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue.)

LISTENING: A SKILL-BUILDING WORKSHOP

I’m always writing about the importance of listening (like here and here) and like to share inspiring quotes about it. Now is your chance to build your listening skills in a fun and engaging one day workshop. We’ll build your listening skills for improved performance at work and to strengthen your personal relationships.

Articles Bits Blog Blogs & Bits Communication Conflict Resolution Skills Event Event List Listening Professional Development Workshop
03 Nov

Do You Need a Cohabitation Agreement?

In the US, we often think of cohabitation as something done by young couples on the path to marriage. But the demographics on co-habitation is more complex than this. So are the things a couple should discuss when deciding how to cohabitate.

Changing Demographics

According to the US Census, cohabitation is up by 29% in the last decade. More striking is that the number of cohabiting people over 50 has increased 75% in the same time, per a study by the Pew Research Center. That’s a lot of cohabitation. (Read more about cohabitation over 50.)

Lots of Issues to Consider

One reason couples opt out of marriage because of the complex cluster of rules, laws, and expectations around the institution. Cohabitating couples still have laws to consider, but they mostly make up their own rules. Decisions about how to share living quarters, how to interact with family, how and when to make decisions, how to manage finances, and long-range planning are all critical and sensitive topics. But those topics need to be tackled clearly and with sensitivity.

Mediation can be an ideal forum to have those important and sensitive discussions. It provides a neutral and supported environment to raise issues, iron out differences, and come up with creative and balanced solutions that fit your unique relationship.

Contact me to talk about mediation for cohabitation.

 

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01 Nov

My Interview About Healthy Divorce

I often say the perfect is the enemy of the good. Well, I’m accepting imperfection and releasing my unedited interview from the Make Divorce Healthier Symposium 2016. View now to hear my impromptu thoughts on:

  • What  it means to have a healthy divorce
  • My personal connection to divorce and how it effects my profession
  • My bigger vision of healthy divorce
Blog Blogs & Bits Co-Parenting Communication Divorce Divorcing Featured Mediation
15 Mar

Speaking at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators, April 22, 2017

I’m pleased to be presenting a workshop at the Annual Conference of the Pennsylvania Council of Mediators in Harrisburg. This year’s theme is practice challenges. The two-day conference will be kicked off with a full-day workshop with internationally renowned conflict resolution expert Bernie Mayer, who will present “The Conflict Paradox: The Dilemmas and Contradictions that Define our Work (and our Lives).”

On day two, I’ll sharing some of my unique approaches to mediation in “Coaching to Improve Mediation Outcomes: An Examination of Processes, Pitfalls, and Ethics.” The program description is below:

Careful and skilled application of coaching approaches can effectively support parties in making free and informed choices, deepen their understanding of the conflict, achieve greater clarity about their goals in the mediation, reach more thorough understandings about their decision-making, bolster their self-advocacy, and strengthen their commitment to and compliance with their mediated agreement. But the application of coaching techniques without care, caution, and skill, can raise questions about the mediator’s impartiality and potential for favoritism. We will examine how practices of conflict and personal coaching can be applied to support self-determination and avoid appearances of partiality.

Articles Blog Communication Conflict conflict coaching Mediation Professional Development Workshop
15 Mar

Our Birthday, Your Deal! (Expires April 30, 2017)

In honor of my BIG birthday (no actual number to be mentioned – but you can infer), I’m offering a gift to YOU. Contact me about conflict coaching before the end of April, and you’ll get the first hour for 50% off. That’s a $80 value to help you prepare for a difficult conversation, understand and improve your conflict responses, or strategize about how to better communicate with that tough person.

Blog Communication Conflict conflict coaching Conflict Resolution Skills Professional Development
15 Mar

Listening Workshop, April 29

I’m always writing about the importance of listening (like here and here) and like to share inspiring quotes about it. Now is your chance to build your listening skills in a fun and engaging one day workshop. We’ll build your listening skills for improved performance at work and to strengthen your personal relationships.

The workshop employs a combination of lecture, exercises, experiential activities, and take-away practices and is part of the Building Conflict Competence Series. The schedule includes a lunch break. Participants provide their own lunch. There are many dining options in easy walking distance.

 

Be part of the latest offering of our Listening Workshop on Saturday, April 29th, 9:30-4, 24 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063 (look for the orange and black HeadRoom awning).

Cost of the workshop is $60 per person or $100 for two people. Register today!

Registration
Name and emails of Attendees



Articles Blog Communication Conflict Conflict Resolution Skills Event Listening Professional Development
20 Jan

Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue, Saturday, May 20th

I took the Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue workshop and highly recommend it. Ellen’s style for running the workshop helped me learn new skills and practice them with others. I left feeling more aware of my own communication style and emotional response, and open to listening to others. I’m more prepared for the difficult conversations that may come my way.

It’s a tough time for productive and civil dialogue. The recent elections have been divisive and often uncivil. But how to do you engage in civil dialogue when you are not in agreement? You can learn how! Join Secrets to Civil and Productive Dialogue, Saturday, May 20th, 9:30-4, 24 Veterans Square, Media, PA 19063 (look for the orange and black HeadRoom awning).
So, you ask, what does one learn in a workshop on dialogue? Well, in this one, you learn:

* A lot about listening
* A lot about effective questions usually coming from a place of curiosity
* An overview of what research has shown to change people’s minds and what does not change people’s minds
* An overview of cognitive bias
* What we can do to encourage people to listen to us
* Strategies to manage our internal challenges in dialogue (be it internal dialogues, biases, a choking lump in your throat, fear, a heart that beats so fast you don’t know how you can do it, developing courage, etc.)
* Regular practices that help built skills and capabilities
* And more

This workshop will build your dialogue skills using a combination of lecture, exercises, experiential activities, and take-away practices. The workshop is part of the Building Conflict Competence Series. The schedule includes a lunch break. Participants provide their own lunch. There are many dining options in easy walking distance.

Cost of the workshop is $60 per person or $100 for two people. Register today!


Registration for Dialogue Workshop May 20, 2017
Name and emails of attendees



Articles Communication Conflict Conflict Resolution Skills Event Professional Development Workshop
01 Oct

Mediation for Your Marriage

“A postnuptial or mediated agreement can help save a couple’s relationship — if that’s their goal.” CNN

I’ve been asked periodically to help mediate for married couples on issues like chores, aspects of communication, and how finances are managed. I always refused but was never sure why. I work with married couples to help them divorce, as well as with siblings, neighbors, business partners, and colleagues to resolve disputes and, hopefully, strengthen their connection and tools for more productive interactions. So why not married couples?

Not long ago, I was approached by a couple to help them with a prenup. I warned them that I’d not done them before. I knew their goals and that they had retained counsel. Much of their plan was effectively divorce planning. That was familiar territory, so I agreed to work with them. What surprised me was how much I loved helping this couple not just navigate “divorce planning” but aspects of how they would manage their relationship and strike that tricky balance between the interests of the individual and the couple – which can be at odds. It was a gratifying process for both me and the couple. I knew I wanted more of this work.

“Preparing a postnup may be a surprisingly cathartic experience for couples. It is an opportunity to analyze their assets, debt, and spending habits, and to look at the impact of financial stress on their emotional lives. Grievances can be aired and insecurities expressed.” Huffington Post

So, I’ve extended my practice to include marriage and pre-marriage mediation. It’s time to leverage my years of knowledge about ending marriages peacefully and strengthening other relationships to help existing love relationships – whether married or not. Pre-nups (or pre-marriage agreements) and post-nups (or agreements within marriages) are a great way to air concerns, address problems, reach agreements, and strengthen your bond.

I’m offering a limited time discount on pre-marital and marital mediation – 25% off mediation services through January 31, 2017. Get a free consultation.

“People also enter into a post nuptial agreement because their goals and priorities have shifted during the marriage. Issues such as child care, household chores, investment decisions, and the like are often made part of the post nuptial agreement, either in response to (or in anticipation of) conflicts and changes of attitude in these areas.” UnderstandEstatePlanning.com

Articles Bits Blog Blogs & Bits Communication Conflict Conflict Resolution Skills Divorce Divorcing Family marital mediation Mediation post nuptial Prenuptial relationship mediation
01 Oct

It’s Back! Listening Skills Workshop, October 10th and 17th

I’m always writing about the importance of listening (like here and here) and like to share inspiring quotes about it. Now is your chance to build your listening skills at an incredibly affordable price. I’m teaching a two-evening workshop for the Wallingford Swarthmore Community Classes program.  Classes are Monday, October 10th and 17th, 7-9 pm. Each night can be taken as a standalone, but registration is only available for the whole program. I hope you will join us.

2015-07-27-iococca 2015-08-03-tyger 2015-12-21-mayo-on-listening

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Progressive Conflict Solutions
24 Veterans Square | Media, PA, 19063 (by appointment only)
Ellen@ progressiveconflictsolutions.com | 610-312-1463

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