The truth is that I am a terrible marketer. The fact that I have been in business and practicing mediation for 20 years belies my poor marketing record. Given the type of year that 2020 has been -- pandemic, civil unrest, financial hardship, and political turmoil (to name a few challenges) -- the work that I and my fellow colleagues do, which encompasses a commitment to creating and supporting peaceful solutions, is more important than ever. And we need to be actively sharing and promoting what we do !
In the words of many leaders reflecting on 2020, including Tecovas founder, Paul Hedrick: "We're not looking back, choosing instead to look forward with optimism and determination at all the years ahead." As a mediator, I approach my clients with an optimism and determination that given the right opportunity and safe environment, one can begin the healing and start to resolve even the most complex and painful interpersonal conflicts. While we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it and make decisions today and tomorrow that will help us write the story that reflects the life we want to live and the businesses we want to create, operate and work for. Helping Real People Find Real Solutions is more than a tagline. The impact of harmful interpersonal conflict -- stress, anxiety, fear, pain, loss -- is an emotional and financial toll to those directly and indirectly impacted by conflict. Whether it is the team that is unable to complete work timely because of conflict between 2 team members, or a manager that lacks emotional intelligence and causes chaos in the workplace, or 2 parents that are independently trying to raise their children among feelings of hurt and distrust following a nasty divorce, these are real people dealing with real issues that can benefit from the opportunity to rewrite the current conflict story into one that is based on real solutions. How do I support Helping Real People Find Real Solutions? As a mediator, I listen from a space of neutrality, protect the space by keeping all information confidential (with a few mandated exceptions), and facilitate the space for client self-determination of the outcome. Here is an example of the power of mediation that has stuck with me for years: Early on in my career I was working with 2 adult siblings and their respective spouses. They had not talked in years despite living in the same town! The atmosphere in the mediation room was palpably hostile when they first entered and sat down around the table. They wouldn't even look at each other and were curt with me and my co-mediator. They clearly did not want to be there and were fearful about what to expect. I do not recall what the issue was that brought them to mediation that day and they did not come to a resolution during those 2 hours. However, at the end of the mediation session, there were hugs, tears and promises to start reunifying their estranged relationship. I really appreciated the ability of mediation and trusting of the process that created the potential for these siblings to start healing their relationship. It was powerful! I am committed to marketing mediation and the power of effective conflict management but I need your help! Will you please sign up for the eNewsletter (see Home page) and/or share this post with another? Thank you in advance. I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your stories of optimism and determination. #optimism #determination #marketing #conflictmanagement #commitment
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AuthorSunny E. Sassaman Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution Consultant Archives
November 2022
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