Category Archives: Difficult People

From Casinos to Universities: Teaching Negotiation and Mediation

Posted on May 8, 2012 by kshobbs

So, I am honored to have been invited to teach at Pepperdine University’s Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution in May 2012, and in January 2013.  How did this happen? I’ve been teaching mediation advocacy and negotiation for years, mostly to … Continue reading →

Posted in Difficult People, Diversity, HOA, mediation, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Mediation and Negotiation by Skype?

Posted on February 2, 2012 by kshobbs

Should you mediate by Skype?  Perhaps.  There are benefits and warnings. When a recent case was scheduled and one client would not be present in person, an attorney called me to discuss the client’s participation by telephone.  After a short … Continue reading →

Posted in Confidentiality, Difficult People, Emotions, Ethics, law, mediation, Mediation Advocacy, Settlement | Tagged | 5 Comments

Mediation and Horse Whispering

Posted on November 8, 2011 by kshobbs

Early in my mediation training, a mediation trainer played a video of a horse whisperer.  Mediation is much like horse whispering, she explained.  I have been pondering her message for years. Fast forward to 2011.  If you haven’t, I highly recommend … Continue reading →

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Working With the “Crazy Ones” in Mediation

Posted on October 10, 2011 by kshobbs

Steve Jobs encouraged us to celebrate “the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the trouble-makers, the round pegs in the square holes, the ones who see things differently.” As mediators, we often meet these so-called “crazy ones.”  They are involved … Continue reading →

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Reading Emotions: Fear and Lying

Posted on May 9, 2011 by kshobbs

We interpret body language and emotions through our own lens.  What assumptions do we make?  Are the assumptions accurate?  I learned that many of the common American beliefs about body language are inaccurate. What we do know is that people … Continue reading →

Posted in Body Language, Difficult People, Emotion Recognition, Emotions, Lying, mediation, Mediation Advocacy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

A New Tool for Working With Difficult People

Posted on May 6, 2011 by kshobbs

High emotion is a standard part of mediation.  Clients and lawyers both can be emotional.  Working with these emotions effectively can save time in mediation, money over the long haul for the parties, and aggravation for clients and their families … Continue reading →

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Negotiating with Difficult People, Lying and Apology

Posted on April 30, 2011 by kshobbs

I am lucky.  Every 6 months for the last 10 years, I have been fortunate enough to attend excellent seminars for commercial mediators on really interesting topics.  Next week the International Academy of Mediators will meet in Napa Valley, California … Continue reading →

Posted in Apology, Difficult People, Emotions, law, Lying, mediation, Settlement, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment