by James Dykeman | May 29, 2025 | Blog, Top
In the field of conflict resolution, where the work is deeply human and often solitary, it is easy to become untethered from the very qualities that first drew us to it. We are trained to listen carefully, to remain grounded in difficult moments, to create a space...
by James Dykeman | May 29, 2025 | Blog, Book Review, Top
David Liddle’s Managing Conflict: A Practical Guide to Resolution in the Workplace offers a refreshingly human-centered roadmap for resolving disputes that is deeply aligned with the principles of the understanding-based approach. For those of us who work in...
by James Dykeman | Apr 17, 2025 | Blog, Top
Nonprofit organizations are often described as the backbone of civil society—trusted to care for communities, elevate marginalized voices, and respond to needs where government or market systems fall short. But today, that backbone is under immense strain. Recent...
by James Dykeman | Mar 28, 2025 | Blog, Top
There was a time when the very idea of people in conflict sitting down together—not to argue, not to convince, but to truly understand one another—felt almost impossible. When Gary Friedman and Jack Himmelstein introduced what became known as the Understanding-Based...
by James Dykeman | Mar 12, 2025 | Blog, Book Review, Top
Jim Camp’s Start with No takes a hard-edged, tactical approach to negotiation—one that might work in high-stakes business deals but feels worlds apart from how understanding-based mediators and conflict professionals approach conflict. Camp’s philosophy is built...
by James Dykeman | Feb 19, 2025 | Blog, Top
Starting a mediation or conflict resolution practice is a journey filled with both excitement and uncertainty. For those drawn to this work, the desire to help others navigate conflict with understanding and dignity is a powerful force. But the path from passion to...
by James Dykeman | Jan 16, 2025 | Blog, Top
When relationships shift and families face the uncertainty of separation, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and unsure of what lies ahead. Traditional divorce processes often add to that weight—turning heartbreak into battle, conversations into...
by James Dykeman | Nov 15, 2024 | Blog, Top
Most of us avoid difficult conversations. These exchanges often feel overwhelming, laden with tension and vulnerability, whether at work, with family, or in the broader societal context. Yet avoiding them rarely helps. Left unspoken, conflicts deepen, eroding trust...
by James Dykeman | Nov 7, 2024 | Blog, Book Review, Top
Solid Ground: Buddhist Wisdom for Difficult Times by Sylvia Boorstein, Norman Fischer, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche is a thoughtful and reassuring guide for conflict resolution practitioners and others navigating our increasingly uncertain world. Drawing on Buddhist...
by James Dykeman | Oct 26, 2024 | Blog
Matrimonial disputes often touch the deepest parts of our lives, stirring emotions and raising complicated legal and personal questions. For many, the idea of resolving these conflicts through an adversarial process feels overwhelming and even disheartening. The...
