Texas Conflict Coach

When we see someone who is different from us, we as human beings react with curiosity, concern and caution based on what we may know or have been taught. Forty years ago, not many talked about sexual orientation or gender identity but today Lesbian, Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) employees are in the workplace and looking for workplace equality. Find out what are the best policies and practices are, how to address questions as they come up and preempt conflicts to enhance the workplace for everyone!   Pat Baillie, Associate Director of Training & Professional Development, has been with Out & Equal Workplace Advocates for over 4 years. Bringing a depth of experience in training and diversity, Pat is a retired Air Force Major and former government contractor who now works with corporations to build their diversity programs and increase the engagement of their LGBT employees. Dealing with change through education, story-telling and approaching workplace equality from a positive, strengths based phi

  In this show, we'll be talking with gay couples therapist and author Rik Isensee about the various challenges and opportunities gay men face in their relationships: how to resolve conflicts, and also how to deal with the in-laws who may or may not accept their relationships. Rik Isensee, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist in San Francisco who has specialized in working with gay men and couples for over thirty years. He is the author of Love Between Men, among other titles, which you can see at his website: Gay Therapist

  It is increasingly common for transgender workers to undergo gender transition while keeping their jobs. Not everyone in the workplace adapts easily to this change, however. The Center for Gender Sanity was founded 15 years ago to help organizations manage gender transitions. We have assisted small businesses, Fortune 500 companies, state and local governments, police and fire departments, schools and churches. In this program we'll talk about some of the more common obstacles to smooth gender transition in the workplace and how they can be resolved. Janis Walworth has a BA in Biology from Antioch College and an MS in Counseling from Fitchburg (Massachusetts) State College. She has written two books, Transsexual Workers: An Employer's Guide and Working with a Transsexual, as well as a white paper for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and a chapter in Training Tough Topics on the subject of transgender issues in the workplace. For more information visit: Gender Sanity

"This is a previously recorded show. This show highlights the conflict in a church community where the religious beliefs of the elder population of the church and the growing LGBT population of the church began to divide the church into two factions. Community mediators worked closely with this community to open the dialogues for a deeper   understanding." Church congregations are not immune to conflict. Beth Padgett and Alexandria Skinner would argue that conflict is a sign of an active, engaged, and vital congregation. The question is not whether religious communities will have conflict, but how they will respond to it when it happens. Beth and Alexandria will discuss patterns of church conflict, as well as how mediators can invite clergy, staff and members into trans-formative conversations where firmly held beliefs are part of the conflict and its transformation.   Beth Padgett works as a civil and family mediator. She is the Executive Director of the Community Mediation Center in Columbia. Beth earned

Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBB) is a not-for-profit corporation which brings together mediators and allied professionals to volunteer worldwide to collaborate on building conflict resolution capacity in underserved areas to make local peace-building more effective and sustainable.  MBB also advocates to advance the use of mediation. MBB works in partnership with local organizations and leaders in each area where it has a project. It generally serves groups located in areas where there are difficulties as a result of war, major civil conflict, or significant natural disaster.  MBBs core mission is to help these local organizations and leaders build effective and sustainable conflict resolution systems.    Rachel Wohl is the founding Executive Director of the Maryland Judiciary’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office (MACRO). MACRO helps create, strengthen, expand and fund ADR programs in Maryland within and beyond the courts. In 1998, she directed the Maryland ADR Commission’s statewide collab

Join in as Lou Gieszl and Cheryl Jamison examine conflict dynamics when race is an issue. Racism is less overt and yet more complex than at any other time in our history. Because racism tends to be implicit, it often gets overlooked or mislabeled. How can we recognize when race is an issue? Are there landmines that can be avoided? The presenters dispute the notion of a post-racial society and argue that effective conflict management often depends on acknowledging race as a divisive issue. Focusing especially on Black-White relations, the show includes tips for identifying racial issues that underlying interpersonal conflicts as well as ideas for building positive connections across racial lines.   Lou Gieszl is the Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland Judiciary's Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office and is the immediate past-president of the Association for Conflict Resolution. He has a Masters of Public Policy Degree and teaches graduate-level courses on conflict management at two universities in M

For over two years, my non-profit has trained counselors in Rwanda in narrative psychology, for the sake of Rwanda's newest generation.  So far we have collected and publicly archived 100 intergenerational dialogues between young adults and their elders, and our evaluations suggest this has been very positive for both generations, as a spur toward reconciliation, and healing.  We will discuss the Questions young people in Rwanda are asking about the post, and the answers from their elders in a dialogue project.    Patricia Pasick is a clinical and family psychologist, and the Director of Stories For Hope Rwanda, an international  non-profit she began in 2008, for the sake of Rwanda's newest adult generation.  She's the author of a book for parents about how to support their children as they leave home,  and publishes on the  topic of untold stories, her specialty as a narrative psychologist.  Dr. Pasick lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was educated at both Harvard University, and the University of Michigan.

Front-line managers to CEOs are all asked to put out fires and fix problems. Stephen Kotev, my guest co-host and I will discuss a simple way to determine what is going wrong in the workplace. We will focus on what managers can do to unravel their problems and understand new ways of breaking down issues into resolvable segments. We will review 5 areas that are the most common root causes to conflict. Identifying the right one is crucial to resolving the conflict effectively.   Stephen Kotev is a Washington D.C. based conflict resolution consultant offering mediation, negotiation, conflict analysis, facilitation, training and somatic education to private and government clients. He holds a Master of Science degree from George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. He is a former employee of the Association for Conflict Resolution, the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution a

  Robert Fulghum, an American author, is quoted as saying “Sticks and stones will break our bones, but words will break our hearts” not to mention our spirits. Name calling, mudslinging, defaming and insulting words are all about impulsively responding to someone or something that is a threat to the beliefs, values or attitudes we hold dear. We learn it as kids as way to protect ourselves and to hurt others intentionally or not. Unfortunately, we carry these deep wounds and/or bad behaviors with us into adulthood. If you are someone who habitually uses name-calling as a defense mechanism, explore what is behind this behavior. We will share some questions for your consideration. If you are someone who holds deep wounds from the act of name-calling, then explore how to move beyond the hurt and change how you engage with someone who continues to insult you.   Join Pattie Porter, The Texas Conflict Coach, as she discusses the importance of putting an end to name calling.   No Name-Calling week is January 23-27,

"Got conflict?" We all have conflict in our lives…some more complex than others. Sometimes, we are so entrenched in our problem that we lose sight and it feels too complicated to figure out or we solve the wrong problem. Stephen Kotev, my guest co-host and I will discuss a simple way to begin to unravel the problem and look at it from different perspectives which will help you think through how to resolve your conflict. Stephen Kotev is a Washington D.C. based conflict resolution consultant offering mediation, negotiation, conflict analysis, facilitation training and somatic education to private and government clients. He holds a Master of Science degree from George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a black belt in the Japanese martial art of Aikido. He is a former employee of the Association for Conflict Resolution, the American Bar Association Section of Dispute Resolution, the Ohio Commission on Dispute Resolution and Conflict Resolution.  Stephen can be reached at www.Step

"For December, we have chosen some of our favorite past shows to support you through the holiday season. Enjoy!"  Victoria Pynchon’s new book is an adult primer on the difficult art of resolving, transforming or transcending conflict in your home, your workplace, your community, your state, your nation and your world. Victoria is an attorney who traded in her boxing gloves for the softer but no less difficult skills of helping lawyers and their business clients resolve their commercial disputes. Now she brings the wisdom of the courtroom and the mediation room to everyday conflicts and the difficult people in your life. Victoria mediates commercial disputes with ADR Services, Inc. in Century City, arbitrates business disputes for the American Arbitration Association and teaches women when and how to negotiate with her business partner Lisa Gates at SheNegotiates.com. Join us as we talk with Victoria Pynchon, attorney-mediator and arbitrator who spent the first 25 years of her legal career litigating and try

  "For December, we have chosen some of our favorite past shows to support you through the holiday season. Enjoy!"  Dr. Abuelaish talks about his education as a Palestinian, becoming a doctor, his work at an Israeli hospital delivering babies and going back and forth over the border to Gaza, and the night that 3 of his daughters were killed in an Israeli attack on Gaza.  Despite this tragedy, Dr. Abuelaish, who now lives in Toronto, Canada, still speaks out for peace.  His book, I Shall Not Hate, is a testament to the human spirit and its belief in the good in people that lies behind even hatred and war.  He speaks of building bridges between peoples, instead of succumbing to hatred.  He now has a website for the memorial and foundation he has set up in memory of his daughters and his niece who died in 2009,  www.daughtersforlife.com.

"For December, we have chosen some of our favorite past shows to support you through the holiday season. Enjoy!"  Summer is here and with it comes more opportunities for great get-togethers with the extended family. Swim parties, barbecues, family reunions, picnics – the possibilities are endless. With multiple generations and all the different personalities, conflict may seem inevitable – but it isn't!   Join my guest Janet Bonnin of Fine Tuned Families and myself as we explore ways to minimize the friction at your next family gathering. Call in and join us with your questions and comments. We look forward to hearing you on the call! For more information, check out her website Fine Tuned Families and her blogspot.

"For December, we have chosen some of our favorite past shows to support you through the holiday season. Enjoy!"  Our conversation will focus on what to do to prepare for those family gatherings so that you don't lose your cool. Have you ever felt you have to perform like Martha Stewart and be the perfect hostess?Or, maybe you wanted to start a new tradition but it is met with resistance because “we’ve always done it this way!”Do you get tired of the constant battle of who to visit, so instead you rush around to 3 or 4 family households in a day? Exhausting!We all certainly have those relatives we see during the holidays that make us want to cringe. They’ll never change! Donna Tuites is a licensed professional counselor of mental health (LPCMH) in the State of Delaware.  She is also a certified employee assistance professional (CEAP). She has been in private practice with a group of other licensed professionals since 2006.  Prior to that she worked as an employee assistance counselor and administrator in the

  Forgiveness is a powerful tool for clients who are up against difficult, and seemingly insurmountable, conflicts. It creates a pathway from conflict to a deeper place of understanding and compassion. Because Forgiveness integrates all levels of conflict -- physical, emotional, mental and spiritual–it uniquely enables clients to experience the opportunity for transformative healing that is latent in every challenging conflict. Learn more about how to work with Forgiveness to help clients in your practice.   Eileen Barker has been writing and speaking on forgiveness, and guiding people who need to either forgive themselves or someone else, for many years.  A practicing litigation lawyer who rejected the traditional adversarial role, Eileen has focused her practice on mediation, helping thousands of people resolve disputes outside of court.  This work led her into a deep exploration of forgiveness as it relates to resolving conflict and making peace, both with others and oneself. Eileen has been a leader

Cinnie Noble  is a pioneer of conflict management coaching (also known as conflict coaching). In this show, Cinnie will talk about her coaching model that was well researched and designed to help people on a one-on-one basis to improve the way they manage their interpersonal disputes. Cinnie will also share 7 important things she has learned about people in conflict.   Cinnie is a lawyer-mediator and certified coach based in Toronto, Canada. She developed the CINERGY Model of coaching in 1999 and since that time has coached hundreds of people worldwide in their efforts to improve the way they engage in their interpersonal conflicts. Cinnie and her associates have also trained thousands of coaches, mediators, lawyers, HR professionals, psychologists, social workers, leaders and others around the world to use her unique evidenced-based coaching model. Cinnie's philosophy aligns with that of the International Coach Federation, which acknowledges people as creative, resourceful and whole.   Learn more about t

It has been quite the journey since April 2009 when The Texas Conflict Coach Blog Talk Radio show launched with its inaugural episode.  We have had fabulous guests, great topics, and a wonderful special guest host, Zena Zumeta join us this year. We invite you to join us for this special celebration anniversary show by calling in, joining us in the chat room, or e-mailing me at [email protected] with your favorite show and how it impacted you. We would love to hear your comments and feedback. Past guests will be joining us on the show to give us updates since we last spoke to them. And, we will have a special gift for the 5th and 10th caller that night. Don't miss out...join us for the celebration!

Crucial Conversations exist when the stakes are high, opinions vary, and when emotions run strong and it is in these conversations where our greatest potential lies, we will discuss ways to handle these conversations in a healthy and productive way. Crucial Conversations creates a new language around communications and how they can best be handled. It approaches the issue in a very human way that stimulates our desire to relate to others while feeling good about us. You will read some real and concrete methods for getting control of yourself and staying focused through those challenging moments that pop up in everyone’s life.   Randy Mayes works full time as an Executive Coach, consultant, and trainer. He is also an adjunct professor for William Woods University’s MBA program teaching classes in entrepreneurship, management, and marketing. His latest project is called Leadership Book of the Month. Leadership Book of the Month is a quick and easy way for business owners and busy professionals to keep up with

Holding on to resentment is like hauling around a red-hot coal with the intention of one day throwing it back at the one who hurt you. The coal burns not only your hands, but also your hearts. The burden of blame and anger causes pain, heartache, and possible health problems for the person carrying them. Forgiveness is a powerful tool that can replace anger, blame, and discontent with hope, joy, peace, and contentment. Learn how to take the first step on the path toward forgiveness and emotional freedom.   Dr. LaVena Wilkin is the Dean of Conflict Management programs at Sullivan University, where she oversees the undergraduate Conflict Management certificate, the Masters of Science in Conflict Management degree program, and the Conflict Management concentration in the PhD in Management degree. She has facilitated workshops on communication, organizational conflict, interpersonal conflict management, and conflict and change for Fortune 500 companies, universities, unions, and non-profit organizations. Her dis

Join us for Cyberweek 2011 - the annual virtual conference dedicated to the innovations and developments of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) hosted by Werner Institute at Creighton University via ADRHub.com. This show will focus on how online dispute resolution processes are used to deal with disputes, the various forms of ODR processes, and the benefits and challenges to using virtual communications. The show highlights ODR experts in the field.   Join us as we talk with Noam Ebner, Colin Rule, and Dan Rainey. Click for more information on Cyberweek2011 Event