For HR teams and operations managers, one of the most important parts of the job is resolving interdepartmental conflict and preventing it before it starts. But as a company scales, the number of relationships between people increases exponentially. A company of just 10 people has 45 different relationships in it, and each one of them...
I recently had a conversation with a colleague in the peacebuilding field, and we did not seem to agree on what a peacebuilder is or what approach is appropriate. This was a clear example of a gap in the unified definition of peacebuilding, and correcting this gap is important because various organizations and professionals who...
There are various elements to thriving or successful relationships, depending on the type of relationship and environment. Thriving work relationships have different needs than thriving romantic relationships. While each relationship is different and may require unique components to thrive, there is one critical element to simply maintaining a peaceful (i.e. low conflict) relationship no matter...
Change is almost never easy. Whether we’re proposing a personal, individual change or a change in direction for an entire team or company, such efforts require the proper motivation to start, continue, and see the change through to the end. To get people motivated to participate in any kind of change, they have to be...
Improving intercultural or interdemographic relationships is a critical endeavor for society, especially as the world has become more connected and increasingly diverse over the last century. So, how can we improve intercultural relationships? How can we begin to open our hearts to one another regardless of our socio-cultural differences, backgrounds and beliefs? Instead of focusing...
Any group of individuals in any sort of setting who are attempting to cooperate in some fashion are sure to run into conflict from time to time. And family members, of course, are no exception. In fact, some of the most heated, emotional, long-standing, and painful disputes arise from family conflict. That’s probably because families...
I’m sitting at a Thai Cafe on Mission St. in San Francisco. Piano jazz plays softly from the speaker in the ceiling. I slurp on flat noodles while reading a research paper on existential depth psychotherapy, feeling very sophisticated. I chuckle at myself but nonetheless enjoy the moment. My phone rings. It’s my client —...
I have often heard the suggestion that “people are naturally violent.” And while it is true that human beings do have an innate capacity for violent aggression, I do not believe humans are intrinsically prone to violence. That is, our natural desire is to be in a state of peace, and so our natural state...
One of the saddest results of ongoing conflict is the destructive impact it can have on relationships. What could otherwise be a productive or even loving relationship has taken damage that often seems irreparable. This damage is especially sad when it affects other innocent parties, like family members, co-workers, or large groups of people. While...
