Civil Negotiation and Mediation

What We Can Learn From Law Students

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:37:00 +0000

The American Bar Association, Law Student Division, hosts a variety of negotiation tournaments for law students. I spent a Saturday afternoon recently as a judge of an early round of the in-school competition at UC-Hastings College of Law.

The students are being taught that the outcome of a negotiation is successful when the settlement:

• Is better than the best alternative to a negotiated agreement (with this party)
• Satisfies the interests of:
the client – very well
the other side – acceptably (enough for them to agree and follow through)
third parties – tolerably (so they won't disrupt the agreement)
• Adopts a solution that is the best of all available options
• Is legitimate – no one feels "taken"
• Involves commitments that are clear, realistic, and operational
• Involves communication that is efficient and well-understood, and
• Results in an enhanced working relationship, so the parties and/or their attorneys can deal with future differences more easily.

Here’s the behavior I saw from the law student participants:

They talked face-to-face.
They were respectful.
They tried to surface the other side’s underlying issues.
They were curious and tried to understand the other side’s views.
They advocated successfully without resorting to pressure tactics or bullying.
They carried on a civil conversation about the issues in the lawsuit.

And guess what? They think this is the norm! If your last mediation was not conducted in this manner, think about adopting some of the goals the ABA is trying to teach: an enhanced buy-in by the parties to the settlement agreement and an enhanced relationship between clients and counsel based on good communication skills.

Summer Reads: Negotiation and Mediation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 00:24:00 +0000

I couldn't let summer pass by completely without making a list of books to read. If you’re headed for vacation, here are some ideas for books to take along.

Rene-Marc Mangin, Minds in Motion. Rene-Marc, a mediator, business consultant, and college professor, goes waaay beyond body language to discuss the nonverbals of subliminal influence.

Andrew Little, Making Money Talk. Andy, a North Carolina mediator, puts mediations that are based on money (as opposed to relationships) into perspective. Learn how to make your offer convey the information you want.

Linda Babcock & Sara Laschever, Ask For It. Written for women, this book will help anyone become a better negotiator.

Lynn Lancaster & David Stillman, When Generations Collide. While this book is about solving the generational puzzle at work, it speaks to all of us in understanding differences with those in different generations.

Dan Roam, The Back of a Napkin. Everyone has different learning styles. Learn how to solve problems and persuade others by using drawings--yours.

Martin Seligman, The Optimistic Child. This is a wild card--my favorite book on child rearing. We teach our children many things, but intentionally teaching them optimism may be the most important thing we can do. Seligman, a professor at Penn, believes optimism can be learned.

Let me know what books you're reading this summer.

How to Start a Successful Negotiation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 16:04:00 +0000

Social psychologists point to mounds of research to prove that likeability is a major component of persuasion (e.g., Cialdini, The Psychology of Influence). Management professors invoke research to show that civility is important to closing the deal (e.g., Conger, Winning ‘Em Over). Legal scholars cite multiple studies to prove that building rapport is the most important initial phase of a negotiation (e.g., Craver, Effective Legal Negotiation and Settlement).

If you think about it, even our grandmothers knew this: “You get more with honey than with vinegar.”

First impressions count and every negotiation begins there. Your initial tone sets the stage. If you are positive, respectful, and professional, you start out ahead. If you or your mediator prefer not to start with a joint session, make sure you introduce yourself to everyone on the other side. Welcome them. Thank them for coming. Shake hands and make small talk.

If you are negotiating face-to-face, think of small talk as an integral part of the negotiation. It’s never wasted. The best negotiator I know can spend an hour on small talk before he gets down to business. By the end of that time, the other side sees him as a human being, not as “the enemy.” He gets fabulous results.

If this notion of the power of small talk is foreign to you, or if you have never appreciated its value, take some time to prepare for this “phase” of the negotiation. Think about topics that will bring you and the other side together, instead of figuring out how to keep yourselves apart. You will be laying the groundwork for a successful negotiation.

Creating a Negotiation Plan

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:28:00 +0000

Most of us prepare for mediations on auto-pilot. If we’ve evaluated the case, gotten settlement authority from our clients and written the mediation brief, we kid ourselves into thinking we’re good to go.

This tried and true method works . . . until impasse. Then we’re stuck, wondering why the case won’t settle, or, at a minimum, how the other side cannot possibly agree with us about the appropriate ballpark to be in.

One of the ways to avoid impasse is to create a negotiation plan. Then, if there are miscues or hurdles along the way, we have an organized, pre-planned way to deal with them. This is not to say that we won’t improvise, but at least we know where we’re headed and how to get there.

The essential elements of a negotiation plan include:

1. How to start
2. Where to start
3. What information to exchange—and when
4. Preparing to avoid verbal leaks
5. What concessions to make—and when
6. Bargaining strategies that work
7. Bargaining strategies to avoid
8. Preparing for emotions—(yours, your client’s, theirs)
9. Brainstorming through impasse
10. Saving face—(theirs)

I'll be writing about these in the next series of posts.

Hats Off to Michael Mortimer!

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Speaking of civility, trial lawyer Michael Mortimer has an article in January’s Plaintiff magazine, “The courtroom: no place for personal attacks.” It’s worth a read.

Essentially Mortimer points out that when reading briefs, judges “get” who is casting aspersions. If the other side is making personal attacks, there is no need for you to stoop to their level, no matter how tempting. Not only is responding in kind counter-productive, such responses are a waste of the court’s time.

Mortimer recommends taking the high road. He also adopts a strategy I’ve used in the past when I’ve been irritated by opposing counsel: ask another lawyer to review your brief to edit out any hint of derogatory language. You want to be the guide, not the denigrator.

In oral argument, personal attacks are a distraction. They detract from your strong points. They damage your own reputation. While they may put the other side on the defensive, they do not make you more persuasive. In fact, just the opposite. More than any other legal group, judges appreciate civility.

This advice holds true for mediations as well. Your goal is to coax the other side inside your ballpark. Persuasion through civility, not denigration, is the key.

A Secret About Mediators

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

I hope not to get drummed out of the mediation profession for revealing this.

Mediators strive to be neutral, or as Ken Cloke so eloquently puts it, “omni-partial.”

But mediators are human, too.

If you come to mediations prepared, respectful and open-minded, you will go a long way towards gaining the mediator’s respect. Should that make a difference? No. Will it make a difference? No guarantees, but it might just be worth your while.

Here’s why. Years ago, as a young lawyer, I was selected as a juror in a criminal case. I think I was left on the jury because I was so young. (The lawyers figured I didn’t know enough do any harm in the jury room. Turns out, they were right.)

I learned an enormously important lesson during my jury service. I liked the prosecutor. I didn’t like the defense attorneys. It should not have had an influence in my decision-making about the case. But it did. That’s when I realized that as a trial lawyer, I wanted to be the nicest person in the courtroom.

The same holds true for mediations. As I lawyer representing a client, I want to be the nicest lawyer at the mediation. Why? Because I am more likely to persuade…not only the other side, but the mediator, too.

Robert Cialdini, a social psychologist at Arizona State University, has written the definitive book on persuasion which includes a chapter on likeability called Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion. It includes a chapter on likeability.

I’ve written prior posts on likeability here and here.

At your next mediation, try being likeable. Let me know the result.

Mediation: Why Bullying is a Wasted Opportunity

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 17:20:00 +0000

Further to my post below….

As a mediator, I see w-a-a-a-y too many lawyers play the bully card in joint session. I think it works against their clients’ interests. Here’s what I’ve observed:

· Most bullied lawyers just ignore it (so nothing is gained)
· Most bullied clients become further entrenched in their position, i.e., bullying pushes them away, rather than coaxing them to a position closer to yours (so an opportunity is lost)
· Everyone else in the room thinks you’re a pain in the derriere (so your ability to persuade is diminished)

None of these outcomes resulting from bullying tactics enhances your clients’ position, which is what they hired you to do. Mediation is a venue where you can show off your skills to your clients with whom you are spending the better part of a day. So show off your intelligence. Be positive, creative, deft, nuanced. Your clients will appreciate you all the more.

Why Bullying Doesn't Work in Mediation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:28:00 +0000

Ever been bullied? How did you react?

I’ve always reacted to bullying by digging in my heels. I don’t think I’m alone in this. Does this strategy sound like it will settle a case? I wonder, then, why so many lawyers resort to bullying in mediation?

I’ve seen the bully “card” played many times in mediation.
I’ve never seen it be effective.

Sometimes it’s played in a calculated way at the very start. When this happens, much valuable time is wasted in bringing equilibrium back into the joint session or the caucus room. The person bullied is upset, but rarely cowed.

Sometimes it’s played in reaction to a perceived insulting counter-offer from the other side. When this happens, it’s really a reaction to being frustrated. There are more constructive ways to negotiate.

Sometimes it’s played as a false impasse, in an attempt to signal a real impasse. The classic standing-up-and-packing-one’s-briefcase is the prime example. Although this is the time when it can be the most effective, it’s also a calculated risk, as it may create an impasse when there is more room to move by the other side.

Think before you bully. Invariably, there is a more imaginative and productive way to get to your intended result.

Dear Reader:

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 20:53:00 +0000

I know this blog has been looking like this computer screen: blank. 2009 has been a challenging year. I wore my trial lawyer hat the entire month of January and I’ve been playing catch up ever since.

I’m happy to say I’m back in the blogosphere. Thanks for being patient. I look forward to continuing the discussion with you on civility and negotiation strategies and dispute resolution through mediation. We’ll be talking about mediation advocacy in the weeks to come.

Negotiation When Times are Tough

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 16:58:00 +0000

I wrote a previous post on practicing negotiation in everyday life, here. Like any other skill, your negotiation skills will improve the more you use them.

Now, with the economic downturn, there are even greater rewards for practicing negotiation. Many merchants, especially smaller merchants, would prefer to negotiate a lower price than to lose a sale altogether. Times are tough.

I wrote about my recent negotiation of a smog inspection over at Real Divorce Mediation. You can read the post, here.

Plan to Attend ADRNC's Annual Conference!

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Join us on Saturday, March 7, 2009, for The Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California's Annual Conference. It's just two weeks from today!

We have a wealth of great speakers and fascinating topics.

Rene-Marc Mangin, Ph.D., M.B.A., is our keynote speaker. He will be speaking on "In Plain Sight: The Subliminal Influence of Non-Verbal Communication. I heard Rene-Marc speak at the ABA's Section on Dispute Resolution's Annual Conference in Seattle last year. He is engaging and thought-provoking. A must-see.

Our afternoon line-up of all-star speakers include Patty McManus of Interaction Associates, Melyssa Jo Kelly, Michelle Cesario, Eileen Barker, John Ford, Cameron Hunter and Leija Mavris of Global Majority.

You can sign up for the Annual Conference here.

Best Wishes to George Mitchell

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 16:41:00 +0000

I find George Mitchell, the former Senator from Maine, inspiring.

President Obama has asked Sen. Mitchell to be his administration's special envoy to Israel and the Palestinian Authority. Sen. Mitchell mediated the 1998 Northern Ireland Peace Agreement which effectively ended decades of sectarian violences. He said this about that experience:

"In the negotiations which led to that agreement, we had 700 days of failure and one day of success. For most of the time, progress was nonexistent or very slow. So I understand the feelings of those who may be discouraged about the Middle East... From my experience there, I formed a conviction that there is no such thing as a conflict that can't be ended."

And here's the money line:

"Conflicts are created, conducted and sustained by human beings. They can be ended by human beings."

Best wishes to Sen. Mitchell in his new role at the State Department.

Photo credit to Thomas College.

Liz Strauss and David MacGregor

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:43:00 +0000

This is a big, shout-out, THANK YOU, to Liz Strauss and David MacGregor of the New York Times.

Liz is the guru of all bloggers who is the driving force behind the (now annual) SOBCON (Successful and Outstanding Bloggers Convention). She has a highly successful blog: Successful (and Outstanding) Blog(gers), which you can visit here. David writes on blogging at the NYT.

David posted on Liz's "260 Blogs Worth Visiting." Liz was kind enough to include Civil Negotiation and Mediation in her list. It's a prestigious list, the more so because it contains one of my favorite conflict resolution blogs, Conflict Zen, by Tammy Lenski.

Here's an open invitation to all of my ADR blogging friends to join me at SOBCON 2009 in Chicago in May. It would be fun to meet up, don't you think?

Liz, thanks for the recognition. I love blogging and once this trial is over, I'm looking forward to getting back to regular posts.

Board Games for Christmas

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:59:00 +0000

I've posted about this board game, Diplomacy, before, but it came up again in a BBC article about the virtues of board games, e.g., players have to actually speak with each other! In our family, Boxing Day has traditionally been spent playing all the new games with the kids. (Unfortunately, today, I'm spending Boxing Day in trial prep and my youngest is spending it on completing college apps. Ah, for the good old days.)

I haven't played Diplomacy yet, but I discovered the best value for it on Amazon's UK website. You might also find it on eBay. All the reviews I've read suggest that it is one of the best games on negotiating in use today. If you've played it, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

Happy Boxing Day to all!

Practice Negotiating

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:34:00 +0000

What to do when the economy is in the tank? Practice negotiating!

The latest issue of AARP magazine has an article by Jeff Yeager, a man who makes his living bargaining for discounts and then writing about his experiences. The article lists 10 things you can do to negotiate lower prices for goods and services. (When I turned 50, my father kidded me: “You can join AARP now!” So I did.)

His tips speak to lawyers in mediation:

“The first thing I do when I’m negotiating for a discount is to
speak with someone who has the authority to make a deal.”

(Make sure the decision maker is in the room.)

“I come in knowing the range of pricing on the item I’m
bargaining for. “

(Preparation.)

"And, very important, I’m always friendly.”

(Rule of reciprocity.)

The article reminded me that one of the best ways we as lawyers can learn about the art of negotiation is to practice, practice, practice. And what better time to start than today, for our own pocketbooks, when the economy is in the tank?

You can find more about Jeff at his website Ultimate Cheapskate. Or buy his book, The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches.

Update. I was unable to link to Yeager's article. The 10 areas in which he recommends negotiating are: medical/dental bills, bank fees (ask that they be waived), electronics (never pay the advertised price), groceries, hair salons, insurance, rent, subscription renewals, repairs and replacements (the independents have more flexibility to negotiate) and catalog sales (call and ask for unadvertised discounts).

Please Circle Back

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:16:00 +0000

Faithful readers may have noticed a slowdown in my productivity over the past month. My apologies. Unfortunately, my “day job” (lawyering and mediating) is taking up vast quantities of my time at the moment. In addition to mediating weekly, I’m preparing for a January trial, so my posts may be infrequent for a couple of months.

I hope you’ll keep circling back for the occasional post.

ABOTA Champions Civility

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Kudos to the Northern California chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates for creating a series of seminars on civility in the practice of law. The seminars include a 30-minute video of judges and lawyers championing civility, as well as outtakes from popular TV shows of lawyers manifesting incivility.

William Smith, a San Francisco lawyer and ABOTA member, participated in the first seminar held at UC Hastings College of the Law. Bill, who I've always found to be a gentleman, is a perfect example of what ABOTA is trying to teach: a lawyer can be a determined advocate, but also civil. The two are not mutually exclusive. In fact, in combination they are highly effective.

The chapter intends to present the seminar to all Bay Area law schools. In addition to promoting civility, they hope to teach law students how to manage incivility from opposing counsel. They will also reach out to practicing lawyers with less than five years' experience. The seminars are free and offer MCLE credit.

Honoring Our Veterans

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:55:00 +0000

Here’s a website to explore in honor of Veteran's Day. At “Any Soldier Dot Com,” you can get the address of a soldier and send a "care package.

The website was started by a soldier. Soldiers/Sailors/Marines/Air Force and Coast Guard personnel sign up with the website. Any member of the armed services in harm’s way is eligible. The gifts are shared, but soldiers and sailors who don’t get any mail are given things first.

You can order treats online to be sent, or make up your own package. Items which are always appreciated include (in no particular order): clean socks, candy, books, toiletries, phone cards, snacks, DVD’s, beanie babies (to give to children), etc.

I usually make up my own packages to send. At the post office I ask for pre-paid Priority Mail boxes, labels and customs declarations. These are free. Because the boxes are sent to APO addresses, you do not need airmail postage. The boxes, regardless of weight, are a flat fee to mail, which I think is about $9, although it could have just gone up.You know those toiletries the hotels give you when you travel? I save those up and fill up a box with them, paperback books and candy of the season (Halloween, etc.)

I don’t think of it as a big deal—it’s just a small way of thanking them for their service. And it's a way for me to say that although I'm against the war, I think about the troops.

If you have a favorite activity you do for our service men and women, leave a comment and let us know.

(I put a version of this post up on Memorial Day. I've updated and edited it to re-post today.)

Sidestepping Emotion in Negotiation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 05:05:00 +0000

Malhotra and Bazerman, in Negotiation Genius, have some suggestions for dealing with anger from the other side in a negotiation.

When the other side is angry, and you don’t get why, ask. For instance, “It sounds like you’re angry. I’m not sure I understand why. What’s going through your mind?”

Their response allows you to figure out whether they are angry because they are misinformed or feel disrespected or misunderstand your position. Once you know where the other side is coming from, your solution is clearer.

Also, by allowing them to vent, and letting them know they’ve been heard, you buy good will and set the stage for the rule of reciprocity to work for you.

The next step is to sidestep the emotion. The critical thing to remember is that it’s not aimed at you. Don’t allow yourself to be the target. Instead, look at their position from their perspective. Would you have acted or reacted in the same way?

Malhotra and Bazerman say:

“Anger prevents people from staying focused on the substantive issues about which they care deeply. Your task is to help the angry negotiator shift attention away from those elements that fueled his anger and toward those elements that would fulfill his interests.”

The best way you can react is to try to ask questions that get the other side to think about the future. “What would you like to see happen now? What would you rather be doing? What would help us put this behind us?” Etc.

What all of these prescriptions do is give you something constructive to do, rather than just react by getting angry in return.

It's Conflict Resolution Day!

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 15:27:00 +0000

Thanks to my friend Diane Levin, I woke up this morning humming the John Lennon song, "All we are saying, is give peace a chance."

Conflict Resolution Day is being celebrated around the world today. To comprehend the breadth of it, start at the Mediation Channel where Diane hosted Blawg Review #181, which includes a compendium of conflict resolution blogs, here, (thanks for the link love, Diane!) and visit the Association for Conflict Resolution's website here for a listing of Conflict Resolution Day events world-wide.

Happy reading.

Going to the Balcony

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:59:00 +0000

As lawyers, we evaluate a case and expect it to settle in a certain range. We also expect the other side will act in a certain way. When the negotiation does not go the way we expected, we react. The reaction is instinctive and emotional. Hey, we’re human. When the other side attacks you or your client or your case evaluation, one of your strategies can be to go to the balcony.

Bill Ury, in Getting Past No, expounded upon this strategy. If you assume the negotiation is taking place on a theater stage, going to the balcony of the theater can give you a broader perspective of what’s really going on. It has the following salutary effects.

It distances you from the fray.

It de-activates your reactive mind.

It calms your emotions.

It allows you to slow down the negotiation.

It affords you time to name the game the other side is playing and decide how to react logically, as opposed to emotionally.

When negative emotions come up, and they will, take a deep breath. Take a time out, either literally or figuratively. Think through what just happened. Remember your negotiation goals.

We’ve all heard the slogan, “Don’t get angry, get even.” In negotiation, it’s not about getting angry or about getting even. As Ury points out, it’s about getting what your client wants.

Mediator Awarded Nobel Peace Prize!

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:18:00 +0000

Congratulations to Martti Ahtisaari, a Finnish mediator, for “winning” the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Nobel committee’s citation said: “Throughout all his adult life, whether as a senior Finnish public servant and president or in an international capacity, often connected to the United Nations, Ahtisaari has worked for peace and reconciliation.”

“Although the parties themselves have the main responsibility for avoiding war and conflict, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has on several occasions awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to mediators in international politics,” the citation said.

“Today Ahtisaari is an outstanding international mediator. Through his untiring efforts and good results, he has shown what role mediation of various kinds can play in the resolution of international conflicts.”

It’s a red letter day for mediators!

Announcing a New Blog: Real Divorce Mediation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:25:00 +0000

I am pleased to announce that I have started a new blog with my friend and colleague, Debra Synovec. I met Debra at an advanced mediation training at Harvard a couple of years ago.
She has been a mentor in all things mediation and meditation.

We call our blog Real Divorce Mediation, to differentiate it from the type of litigation mediation where the lawyers do the talking. From our training and experience, we know that mediations in which the divorcing couple do the work increases the likelihood of an agreement that best meets their needs and interests and both challenges them and empowers them to work through their conflict.

We anticipate our blog will attract readers who are thinking about divorce and want to know more about their options and the mediation process. We will be discussing parenting plans, division of assets and liabilities, development of budgets, child and spousal support, etc.

I invite you to stop by and join our conversation.

Emotion in Negotiation

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:26:00 +0000

If you think about it, emotion plays a large part in negotiation. It’s the elephant in the room that we, as lawyers, mostly ignore, because we’ve been taught and trained to think logically through a problem. The focused use of the brain for problem solving, ipso facto, means that there’s less engagement of the brain for measuring the gestalt of the situation and the emotional temperature of your client and yourself.

If you think I’m off the mark here, think back to your last several mediations. How many times did you have to calm down your client because he or she was angry with a settlement proposal from the other side? How many times were you personally upset by a proposal from the other side? It’s not just our client’s emotions we have to deal with; it’s ours as well.

I know I’m talking about stuff we don’t like to think about. Our comfort zone is in logical analysis. I think we’re kidding ourselves, though, if we don’t anticipate emotion in negotiation and if we don’t have strategies to deal with it.

This is the first of several posts on emotion in negotiation I’m planning to write between now and the end of the year. I hope you’ll join the conversation.

Update. I see my friend Stephanie West Allen over at Brains on Purpose and I are channeling the same thoughts. Her latest post on emotion in negotiation is here.

Geek update. The photograph is my first attempt at “photoshopping.” My thanks to Lesa King at The Graphic Reporter for teaching me about the “magic extractor” at the PowerPoint Live 2008 convention. Check out her “how-to” post here.

Blogging as Connection

neh@hudginslaw.com (Nancy E. Hudgins) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:38:00 +0000

As most bloggers know, one of the major benefits of blogging is connection.

Yesterday in Austin, Tammy Lenski (Mediator Tech and Conflict Zen) and I gave a presentation on blogging to ADR professionals at the Association for Conflict Resolution's annual convention. I said that I was thrilled to be presenting with Tammy, a new friend who I met in the blogosphere, communicated with by email, which led to talking on the phone, and finally, meeting in person last Thursday, two days before our presentation. Tammy and I had such a great time talking that we got together for lunch a second time. Kudos to Tammy for making our talk a technical (as might be expected) and great content success.

We had an engaged audience and we are hoping that the bloggers in the group have a renewed commitment to blogging and that those who were considering it, take the plunge. I'm looking forward to seeing more ADR blogs!

Update: John DeGroote put up this post today over at Settlement Perspectives about jumping into blogging. It has great links. I commend it to our audience at the ACR convention and all of my readers who are interested in blogging.