Give an A in Conflicts: The Art of Possibility

Give an A in Conflicts: The Art of Possibility

During a global crisis, it can be difficult to find the goodness around us. The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to encounter the harsh realities of its medical, financial, and emotional toll on us. There’s a distant nag to focus on opportunities that will arise from a seemingly never-ending season of isolation. Some of us may feel guilty about seeking silver linings, but they may just be key to getting us through crises. Before the pandemic brought everyday life to a halt, Interaction Management Associates started a book club. We began reading The Art of Possibility. This timely book provides practical steps for readers to increase their ability to identify and act upon possibility.

On the Remarkable Path from War Orphan to Peace Builder

On the Remarkable Path from War Orphan to Peace Builder

The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed both tragedy and inspiration across the globe. In this article we introduce Peter Adeeko, who has triumphed in spite of hardship. Against all odds, he has worked relentlessly to foster peace in Nigeria and beyond. Drawing from his childhood experience as a war orphan, he abandoned corporate life as an adult to launch Soulace Africa, a peace-building nongovernmental organization (NGO). Peter found us while seeking mediation training and support for the community he serves, most of whom are victims of extreme violence. As Covid-19 reached Nigeria, we were inspired by the way in which he quickly assessed potential conflicts and mobilized his connections to nurture peace, in the midst of crisis. In spite of constant pandemic-related dark news, we believe Peter’s story may ignite a spark of hope for all of us.

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How to Manage Conflict in Stressful Times

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How to Manage Conflict in Stressful Times

This article was published during the COVID-19 pandemic, a day after the count of globally-documented cases surpassed one million. I felt it was necessary to write this as much for you, dear reader, as for myself. At this point, we don’t really know what the world will look like when the pandemic is over. What I do know is that uncertainty breeds anxiety. Stress clouds our ability to focus on much of anything, let alone resolving conflicts between adversaries. It would be easy to just tell everyone to forgive and forget, but in reality, conflicts only escalate if left to fester indefinitely. After 25 years as a mediator, I assure you, it’s possible to manage conflict in stressful times. In this article, I offer a few options.

 

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