Bridging Troubled Waters: Conflict Resolution from the Heart - Hardcover

LeBaron, Michelle

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0787948217 ISBN 13: 9780787948214

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2002

Synopsis

"Bridging Troubled Waters" is about a robust and holistic approach to resolving conflict. It begins where much of the currently accepted theory and practice in the field leaves off. Like a hand pulling back the curtain from parts of us that have been closeted away, this book reveals ways we can use more of ourselves in addressing conflict. Moving beyond the analytic and the intellectual, it situates our efforts at bridging conflict in the very places where conflict is born-relationships. From relationships come connection, meaning, and identity. It is through awareness of connection, shared meaning, and respect for identity that conflicts are transformed.

About this title

About the Author

Michelle LeBaron is professor of conflict analysis and resolution at George Mason University in Virginia,. She teaches about conflict as it relates to culture, personal and organizational change, spirituality, and creativity. She consults and lectures in many countries around the world.

From the Back Cover

"Bridging Troubled Waters opens the door to an incredible array of conflict transforming resources. This book will truly enrich its readers' capacities for positive and meaningful change. Moreover, it provides the keys to understanding the mysterious forces that divide but also unite us." --Mark McCrea, mediator, Minnesota Department of Labor

"At last, here is a book for conflict resolution practitioners that goes to the heart of what being a practitioner really means. Michelle LeBaron gets right to it, decisively cutting through to the place where, in truth, our practice resides--our intuition, creativity, and relationships with ourselves and others. She writes about difficult ideas--the inner voice that guides us, the power of congruence, the impact of our authenticity and courage--and expresses them with grace and clarity. She reminds us that, in the end, the most important thing we bring to the table is ourselves. This book will take conflict resolution practitioners to a whole new level in the practice of our craft." --Susan Collin Marks, executive vice president, Search for Common Ground and author, Watching the Wind: Conflict Resolution During South Africa's Transition to Democracy

"Run, do not walk, to buy a copy of Bridging Troubled Waters! Just reading it will make you a better mediator, no matter what level you are currently practicing at. Michele LeBaron has identified techniques we have been barely conscious of that give us a whole new depth to our mediation. She has gone far, far from the old box of techniques we have been working with. Bravo!" --Zena Zumeta, mediator and trainer, Mediation Training and Consultation Institute/The Collaborative Workplace

"Every culture, every community, and every organization has conflict. To be alive is to be involved in conflict. Yet there is a paradox. Too much of it for too long becomes destructive. Too little, and we lose the critical tensions that make us creative and vibrant. LeBaron charts the middle path. She gives us the concepts, tools, and insights from narrative experiences we need to analyze and navigate the rapids. Whatever boat you find yourself in, from ocean liner to canoe, keep Bridging Troubled Waters close at hand. It will guide you to safety...and beyond." --Peter Adler, partner, The Accord Group, Honolulu, Hawaii

From the Inside Flap

Bridging Troubled Waters marks a new wave in conflict resolution practice, centered in relationship and creativity. Developed by Michelle LeBaron from over two decades of teaching and practicing in organizations and institutions around the world, her approach infuses the science of conflict resolution practice with art and the techniques with humanity.

Bridging Troubled Waters is about a robust and holistic approach to resolving conflict. It begins where much of the currently accepted theory and practice in the field leaves off. Like a hand pulling back the curtain from parts of us that have been closeted away, this book reveals ways we can use more of ourselves in addressing conflict. Moving beyond the analytic and the intellectual, it situates our efforts at bridging conflict in the very places where conflict is born--relationships. From relationships come connection, meaning, and identity. It is through awareness of connection, shared meaning, and respect for identity that conflicts are transformed.

LeBaron reveals how mediators and facilitators can bridge conflict by tapping into their physical selves (from which change is enacted); their feeling selves (sources of empathy and genuineness); their dreaming selves (from which arise imagination and vision); and their spirit selves (from which meaning is made and deep connections are forged). This creative approach transforms conflict intervention into a way of drawing on human capacities to entertain ambiguity, cultivate openness to innovation, and engage creatively. Bridging Troubled Waters unlocks a treasure trove of new tools to enhance the repertoires of conflict resolvers, including stories, metaphors, and rituals.

Michelle LeBaron shows us that by embracing the art and science of conflict resolution, mediators and facilitators can become more intuitive, sensitive, and ultimately more courageous.

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0787948217
• ISBN 13: 9780787948214
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 352