empathy

Demonstrating an understanding of the other sideÕs needs, interests, and perspective, without necessarily agreeing.

The following items are tagged empathy.

Choosing a mediator

Posted by & filed under Daily, Mediation.

Adapted from “Beyond Blame: Choosing a Mediator,” by Stephen B. Goldberg (professor, Northwestern University), first published in the Negotiation newsletter.

When a negotiation escalates into a dispute, most managers understand the value of seeking out a mediator for professional assistance with the matter. The question of whom to hire, however, is less clear-cut. What type of

Summary of Mediation Pedagogy Conference Participant Survey Results

Posted by & filed under Daily, Mediation, Pedagogy at the Program on Negotiation (Pedagogy @ PON).

To better understand the teaching needs of the mediation community, Negotiation Pedagogy at the Program on Negotiation (NP@PON) organized a Mediation Pedagogy Conference in May of 2009. In advance of the conference, an 18-question online survey was sent to the 175 conference presenters and registered participants. The 75% response rate allowed us to illuminate important

Dealing with an angry public

Posted by & filed under Conflict Management, Daily.

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When negotiators get along well, creative problem solving is easy. When they become upset, however, they seem to forget everything they know about finding joint gain, to the point of giving up tangible wins simply to inflict losses on the other party. This is especially true in high-profile negotiations that turn nasty. Confronted with negative

empathy loop

Posted by & filed under Glossary.

A technique to demonstrate understanding and empathy with another party. The empathy loop has three steps: (1) Inquire about a subject or issue, (2) the other side responds, and (3) you demonstrate your understanding of the response and test or check that understanding with the other person. In other words, you loop your understanding

accommodating

Posted by & filed under Glossary.

An approach to negotiation that emphasizes empathy over assertiveness. Accommodating negotiators prize good relationships, and display concern, compassion, and understanding in a negotiation. They may negotiate in order to resolve differences quickly, and typically listen well but may be too quick to give up on their own interests when they sense that relationship is threatened.

avoiding

Posted by & filed under Glossary.

An approach to negotiation that emphasizes neither assertiveness nor empathy. Avoiders shy away from conflict, and disengage in the face of explicit disagreement. (Robert H. Mnookin, Scott R. Peppet and Andrew S. Tulumello, Beyond Winning [Belknap Press, 2004], 52-53)

competition

Posted by & filed under Glossary.

An approach to negotiation that emphasizes assertiveness over empathy. Competitive negotiators have winning as a goal, and enjoy feeling purposeful and in control. They also may seek to control the agenda and frame the issues in a negotiation, perhaps resorting to intimidation or bullying to get the biggest slice of the pie. (Robert H. Mnookin,

active listening

Posted by & filed under Glossary.

A set of techniques for successful communication in your negotiations. By asking open-ended questions, seeking clarification, driving for specificity, and then demonstrating a grasp of what the other party has said, you both learn and project empathy with your counterparts&lsquo; point of view. Typical active-listening questions include, &ldquo;If I understand you correctly, you need…. Why

Article: Negotiation and Nonviolent Action: Interacting in the World of Conflict

Posted by & filed under Negotiation and Nonviolent Action.

Negotiation and Nonviolent Action: Interacting in the World of Conflict
By Amy C. Finnegan and Susan G. Hackley

Amy C. Finnegan is a Ph.D. student in sociology at Boston College. Her e-mail address is amyfinnegan@alum.wustl.edu.

Susan G. Hackley is the managing director of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School. Her e-mail address is shackley@law.harvard.edu.

Abstract

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