change your conflict
  • Home
  • About
  • HOW TO CHANGE
    • Separation and Divorce Mediation
    • Marriage Mediation
    • Business Mediation
    • Training
  • VOICES
  • Resources
  • Contact

conflict change
speaks

MAKE THEM LAUGH

10/4/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
​The next animal in the Chinese zodiac is the Horse. According to the Chinese zodiac, one of the strengths of the Horse is their sense of humour.
 
It can be hard to experience humour in conflict. Without doubt, many times in the mediation session, people are angry, frustrated, upset and perhaps even shocked about their dispute. 
 
Humour is a powerful tool for communication. If, and it is a big “if”, people share a moment of levity then it can create a strong sense of connection. Even if this is momentary it can provide a reset for a negotiation which has become fraught and stuck. 
 
Usually I do not get to see the humour of parties in mediation, however, I remember sitting in a mediation where both parties were exhausted.  One party made a suggestion, which was intended to be funny and which luckily the other party responded to in kind.  There was a moment of laughter.  We went back to the agenda item, but both had renewed energy and I detected a little shift in each of their positions to be more collaborative. At the end they were able to reach settlement. 
 
The lesson is that humour can be a powerful tool, and like all tools, it must be used at the right time.  The right tool at the wrong time is the wrong tool.  

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    May 2017
    November 2016

    Categories

    All
    Arbitration
    Business Mediation
    Conflict
    Events
    Family Mediation
    Flow
    Mediation
    Negotiation
    Psychology

    RSS Feed

Privacy Policy
The information contained in this website is for general information only and is provided without any representations or warranties. You should seek independent legal, financial, mental health or other advice in relation to your specific circumstances.

Hours

By appointment only

Email

sala@conflictchange.com

All rights reserved. 2020 Conflict Change Consulting Limited
  • Home
  • About
  • HOW TO CHANGE
    • Separation and Divorce Mediation
    • Marriage Mediation
    • Business Mediation
    • Training
  • VOICES
  • Resources
  • Contact