by James Dykeman | Oct 9, 2025 | Blog, Impact 1, Top
Every attorney has a story of why they chose law. For many, it began with a desire to help people, to be a steady hand in moments of uncertainty, to navigate complexity, and to stand with others when the stakes were high. But over time, the daily demands of practice,...
by James Dykeman | Sep 18, 2025 | Blog, Top
In mediation, especially within the understanding-based approach, practice and feedback are not optional enhancements – they are essential elements of developing real skill. The mediator’s work requires more than theoretical knowledge or professional intention....
by James Dykeman | Sep 11, 2025 | Blog, Book Review, Top
Ian Renaud’s Resolving from Within is a thoughtful and accessible contribution to the growing body of work on internal transformation as a foundation for resolving external disputes. For those familiar with the understanding-based approach to conflict resolution and...
by James Dykeman | Aug 14, 2025 | Blog, Top, workplace
There’s a moment in many work relationships when tension begins to surface. A project slows down because team members are no longer aligned. A conversation lingers long after it ends, filled with the weight of something unsaid. A once-strong collaboration begins to...
by James Dykeman | Aug 7, 2025 | Book Review, Top
Melinda Blau’s Families Apart is an invitation to transform what can feel like the end of a relationship into the beginning of a new kind of partnership. Written with warmth, clarity, and realism, this book speaks directly to parents who are navigating the complex...
by James Dykeman | Jul 17, 2025 | Book Review, Top
“Never Split the Difference” by Chris Voss and Tahl Raz is a gripping and engaging book that brings the reader into the high-stakes world of hostage negotiation – and then challenges us to apply those same principles in our everyday professional and personal...
by James Dykeman | Jul 10, 2025 | Blog, Top
For many people called to mediation and conflict resolution, the journey begins with a question: How can I support people in pain, confusion, or disagreement in finding a way forward that honors their humanity? It’s not about fixing others or offering quick...
by James Dykeman | Jun 5, 2025 | Blog, Book Review, Top
Jay Rothman’s Resolving Identity-Based Conflict in Nations, Organizations, and Communities offers a deeply thoughtful and human-centered exploration of conflict rooted in identity. For practitioners of the understanding-based approach, this book is both familiar and...
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...
