by admin on April 30, 2010
Yesterday, SEA (Shoreline Eldercare Alliance) presented its first annual Celebration of Healthy Aging. The Village at Mariner’s Point, in East Haven, CT, was a gracious host to over 300 attendees at this free event. Informative seminars, delicious food from the Village and local restaurants, music, dance, demonstrations, a raffle, and an engaging lecture filled a schedule with something for everyone. The event was a great success. Thank you to all who donated, sponsored, and supported in so many ways. See you next year!
by admin on April 19, 2010
I am honored and humbled by my election to the Board of Directors of the New England Chapter of the Association for Conflict Resolution. The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) is the international professional organization for mediators. The New England Chapter of ACR (NE-ACR) serves mediators (as well as facilitators and arbitrators) in the New England region. I look forward to working with this dedicated group of professionals.
by admin on March 19, 2010
My tip on how to deal with a bad, falling apart business relationship was published yesterday in the Toilet Paper Entrepreneur blog piece on “81 Strategies to Fix a Bad, Falling Apart Business Partnership.” My tip,” Talk, Talk, and Talk Some More”, is focused on communication’s role in business conflict management. This is the third time that I have submitted a tip to the TPE and the third time that one has been chosen and published. Three for three!
There are several interesting tips listed, showcasing different perspectives. Here’s mine:
When a business partnership is falling apart, you must talk, talk, and talk some more! It may be tempting to shut down communications with your partner. Don’t. Why? First, you may find that you can save the business with some effort. Second, if the partnership must end, communications about how to do it can save you time, money, and stress – and preserve business goodwill for what remains of your business or whatever venture comes next. Too difficult to talk? Get help – find a business mediator.
by admin on March 8, 2010
Last week, I had the pleasure of speaking to the Woodbridge, Connecticut Rotary Club about mediation and conflict management. We discussed tips for preventing conflict, reducing conflict, and resolving conflict.
One particular point stood out. I often talk about the great dangers that accompany the great benefits of email. We’ve all heard about the huge percentage of communication that is not contained in the words we use, but that is conveyed by our tone of voice, the pacing of our speech, facial expression, body language, and more. All of these factors, of course, are different in our email communications. Different because we get none of these in the message that is sent to us electronically. In the best of circumstances, we may be puzzled. In the worst of circumstances, when conflict has already started to do damage, we might assume the worst and assign very negative — and possibly inaccurate — meanings where they don’t belong.
So, remember to be careful in your writing and your reading of email messages.
by admin on January 26, 2010
On January 27, 2010, at 7:00 p.m., I will present a talk on Elder Mediation at Apple Rehab Guilford, 10 Boston Post Road, Guilford, CT. The program is free and open to the public and light refreshments will be served. To reserve your seat, please call Apple Rehab Guilford at (203) 453-3725.
This interactive program will provide some advice on how to talk to your siblings about your aging parents and how to talk to your adult children about your own aging. We will also talk about how to start these challenging conversations — before a crisis occurs.
by admin on January 14, 2010
As you can see, the Dovetail Resolutions website has a new look! I wanted a clean, attractive, easy-to-read, easy-to-navigate, easy-to-update site. And I think I have it.
Many, many thanks to Leslie Olding and Laurin Killian of Streamlined Development. It was an absolute pleasure to work with them: while Laurin was doing things (that I won’t pretend to understand) to make the site function well, Leslie was working — oh so patiently — with me. She took the time to understand what I wanted, to make suggestions, to do trial runs, and to create the look and ease of use that I wanted to have. All of this and a thoroughly reasonable price for their expertise, too.
So, I am well-equipped to continue to writing about Connecticut mediation and consulting, especially business mediation, estate planning and settlement mediation, and elder mediation. Stay tuned!
by admin on January 14, 2010
I am pleased to announce that, effective January 1, 2010, my full focus has become Connecticut mediation and consulting through Dovetail Resolutions. After a gradual decrease in my work as an attorney, I wrapped up the practice of law as of December 31, 2009. I was never an unhappy attorney and I take pride in the representation I gave to my clients. My legal education and experience has always enhanced my work as a mediator, consultant, and business owner.
Now I can devote all of my attention to Dovetail and to spreading the word about the benefits of mediation, in Connecticut and beyond, in fields and situations that have been underserved.
Exciting times!
by admin on October 27, 2009
I was scheduled to speak at Fowler Nursing Center, Guilford, CT on Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 7:00. That talk has been postponed as a precaution against H1N1. As Connecticut shoreline residents know, Guilford has been hard hit by H1N1. So many students have been struck by it, that school administrators decided to close Guilford High School for two days.
I look forward to speaking at Fowler’s soon, when administrators there conclude that it is appropriate to resume public activities. The talk will cover the concept of elder mediation and how to create customized resolutions to conflict.
by admin on October 25, 2009
On October 22, 2009 I gave a presentation on Crisis Intervention in Elder Mediation at VNA Community Healthcare in Guildford, CT. This presentation was a “return engagement” in a sense: in April, I had given an overview of elder mediation, including how it fits into mediation as a field and how it fits into the area of eldercare, elder services, or services for the aging.
This time around I was asked to address more specifically what, exactly, professionals can do when they are faced with a conflict regarding care of an elderly person that must be resolved in a very short time. We had a lively, interactive discussion enhanced by the perspectives of VNA staff, elderly housing experts, geriatric care experts, attorneys, and others.
My goal was to give these professionals two sets of tools. First, what tools can a professional use to move a difficult situation towards resolution. Second, how would a professional know when would it make sense to involve an elder mediator to help resolve a crisis. I hope that the participants felt these goals were reached.
by admin on September 26, 2009
On September 24, 2009, I had the good fortune to speak to the Women in Business group of the Hamden Chamber of Commerce. We started with some general, very interactive, discussion about common causes of conflict, at home and on the job. As you might expect, kids, spouses, co-workers, and the people we need to make our business hum topped the list.
Then we moved on to some practical tips about preventing, reducing, and resolving conflicts. As I have said before, conflict is a part of life. Managing conflict so that it does minimum damage is the key.