John,

Great article. You said it all without complicating the process.

Regards, Shahrad Milanfar Mediator & Counselor at Law

Great Work!!!!

Thanks for sharing. I'm sure you know about this great resource http://www.philosophersnotes.com/

But, I thought I would share it with our other colleagues.

Regards, Shahrad Milanfar, Mediator & Counselor at Law

Zeke,

Excellent article, as usual. The information you provide is valuable and easy to understand for people - such as myself - who are not as technologically savvy.

Shahrad Milanfar Mediator & Counselor at Law

Rhonda,

Great article. Your suggestions are textbook mediation techniques designed to improve communication. After all, anger and the silent treatment are all byproducts of hurt feelings, embarrassment, and a failure to effectively communicate. Opening up the communication channels in a productive way results in much better team work and much higher levels of success.

A suggestion that I have is to try to get to the root of what's important to the parties involved. This can be done by simply asking "what's important to you?" A healthy work environment / peace of mind is almost always at the top of the list.

Thank you for sharing.

Shahrad Milanfar, Mediator & Counselor at Law

Evan,

Your article is absolutely on target. I train a lot of young attorneys and find that schooling doesn't provide them with the requisite knowledge to survive in the business of law. This means that it is crucial for the employers to make the investment in training, if they want their clients' needs to be served and have quality people on board. If more businesses considered the benefits of training, they would have much better employees. I totally agree with you. Thank you for sharing.

Regards, Shahrad Milanfar Mediator & Counselor At Law

Well done, Robert!!

Thank you for sharing your insight!

Shahrad

Robert,

You are absolutely right. Too many of us allow the noise to distract us from our goals. Continuing to focus on information gathering tends to postpone (sometimes forever) achievement of our goals. I've found that when I block out the noise, productivity finds me. In that regard, http://www.philosophersnotes.com/ seems to be a very good source for positive encouragement and practical information.

Take care, Shahrad Milanfar Mediator & Counselor at Law

Tshombe,

Thanks for sharing. Great article.

Staying in our comfort zone is the easy thing to do. Often times, when we put things in perspective, stepping out of our shell becomes much easier. In reality, most fears and protection measures are minor in the grand scheme of things. One way to deal with pressure is to ask a simple question: Would this event be stressful or difficult, if I was going to die today?

The answer is always the same.

All the best,

Shahrad Milanfar Mediator & Counselor At Law

Denny,

Great suggestions. This is almost exactly what we try to teach young attorneys when instructing them about trial practice. This approach is practical, simple and very effective. Thanks for sharing.

Shahrad Milanfar Attorney / Mediator

Renea,

Thanks for sharing your insights. You are absolutely right about the fact that a proactive approach tends to minimize conflict. Often times, listening to employees, clients or adversaries' concerns tend to reduce conflict and the likelihood of litigation.

When conflict escalates toward litigation, the parties (especially if they are individuals or small businesses) tend to suffer greatly - both emotionally and financially. In my experience, most conflicts grow out of a lack of communication. Therefore, dealing with the emotions and reestablishing the lines of communication are instrumental in resolving conflicts.

While life isn't always conflict free, as you have correctly pointed out, we all have the ability to reduce such conflict through a proactive & open minded approach.

Thanks again,

Shahrad Milanfar Attorney/Mediator

Roy,

Great article!! I was attempting to rate the article and accidentally hit the button without putting in my rating. The article is definitely a 9.

Thanks for writing it. I look forward to more from you.

Regards, Shahrad

This is very useful. Thank you for your insight.

Good article. These are practical tips which will make life a bit easier.

David,

You make some very good points. With a seven month old baby, I experience this management style on an hourly basis. I am amazed when I experience how well my son communicates - without using words. This style of communication is honest, direct, and without any veiled messages. We can all learn a lot by observing this style of communication in action.

Regards, Shahrad Milanfar, Attorney/Mediator