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Blog Glob: Monday morning shorts

Excerpt from How would Socrates have negotiated? (The Negotiation Guru)

The problem with many negotiators is that they do not direct their questions towards a certain purpose. The art of questioning has to be strategic. To be truly prepared, you need to put some thoughts and time into the type of questions you direct to the other party. Work out the questions with a strategic plan in mind.

Excerpt from Our Profession Has Stopped Thinking: How Else Could We Have Departed from Sound Economic Principles? (inside the firm of the future)

Have you ever wondered how the legal profession, which is trained to ask questions and be skeptical, has not asked why they bill by the hour let alone why we continue to do so? Have you ever wondered how most senior attorneys could have practiced law a lifetime and not realize that the practice of billing by the hour was a recent accident and product of the 195O's and cost accounting methods. Have you ever wondered by old lawyers bicker and banter about how fixed-pricing would not work when in fact it not only works in the legal industry in most other countries, but it also has worked for centuries before the 195Os when WE were a fixed-price profession? Have you ever wondered why . . .

Greet 2008 with hope and a smile: "There's a million things to be . . ." "There's a million ways to go . . ."

Such a quiet time as the year rolls quickly to a close. Not much e-mail. Even the prolific bloggers are not at their computers. Lulls and some whispers.

At the very end of December, I always feel potential pushing and pulling me into the new year. Today that feeling was accompanied by some lyrics in my mind. I looked for the song on the 'net and found even more than what I sought. The lyrics, yes—and a video. Each time I watch this video I grin and celebrate the hope of 2008. Click to watch and listen.

Image credit: alisonkatgraham at photobucket

What's the secret to keeping your New Year's resolutions? Well, first, are you a man or a woman?

Professor Richard Wiseman at the University of Hertfordshire has been studying New Year's resolutions, looking for the winning formula. in 2007, Wiseman tracked 3,000 people to study their resolution behavior. They made their resolutions on January 1 of this year and each followed one of four methods. Only 12% were successful—and the methods for success were not the same for men and women.

To stick to your resolutions, Wiseman recommends that men use the SMART method (goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based), and focus on rewards. Women are more likely to succeed if they tell others about their goals.

From "New Year's resolutions different for the sexes" (The Daily Telegraph):

Tips for men

• Focus on creating goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-based (SMART), says Prof Wiseman.

For example, instead of thinking "I want to find a new job" focus on creating bite-sized, measurable goals for each week, such as rewriting your CV and then applying for one new job every two weeks.

Map out the step-by-step mini-goals that will slowly but surely take you to where you want to be, make a note of them in a diary, and stick to the plan.

• Focus on how much better life will be for you, and those around you, when you achieve your resolution. For example, if you want to quit smoking, make a list of the benefits of giving up, and place it somewhere prominent in your house.

. . .

Tips for Women

• Women who keep their New Year's resolution to themselves make it too easy to forget. Instead, go public.

For example, write down your resolution on a large sheet of paper, sign it, and place it somewhere prominent in your house. Tell your friends, family and colleagues and ask them to provide you with helpful nudges to assist you in achieving your goal.
. . .

Read more about the study in "New year resolution? Don't wait until New Year's Eve" (The Guardian)

Click to participate in the 2008 New Year's resolution study and get some helpful advice to keep your resolutions.

Image credit: ulteriormotive69 at photobucket

Note (added December 30, 2007, 2:25 PM Mountain): In this post, Susan Cartier Liebel talks about blogging as one way to go public and receive those helpful nudges.

Upcoming in 2008: Two Neuroleadership Summits

Last year I posted about the upcoming 2007 Neuroleadership Summit and this year, after the Summit, posted the link to the debrief of the 2007 Neuroleaderhip Summit. Now I am posting the announcement of the two 2008 Neuroleadership Summits. Both are convened by Dr. Jeffrey M. Schwartz and David Rock, as was the Summit in 2007.

Click to read about the New York Neuroleadership Summit, including confirmed presenters (a phenomenal lineup on the neuroscience side of the neuroscience+leadership equation). This Summit is being held the 29th and 30th of October 2008.

Click to read about the Sydney Neuroleadersip Summit, including confirmed presenters (another stellar group of neuroscientists). This Summit will be held September 10th and 11th.

I heard a number of reviews about last year's Summit indicating that it was strong on the neuroscience and weak on the latest in leadership. I am hoping this year more attention will be paid to all the good work being done by leadership researchers and practitioners. As the presenters are added, I will post them here and hope Summit organizers will include the greats in leadership as they have included some of the current greats in neuroscience.

"Lessons About Life, Enterprise, Learned from Baking Christmas Cookies"

In this column by Tom Peters, he described 11 lessons he learned from making Christmas cookies. Peters writes:

A couple of hours in a hot kitchen can teach you as much about business and management as the latest books on re-engineering or total quality management. That's my take, anyway, after a bout of Christmas-cookie baking. Here are 11 lessons for life (and enterprise), fresh from the oven:

I appreciated most of the 11 but these two are my favorites:

2. A plan. I'm not keen on planning in general, but a time-tested recipe is a godsend. First, it's roughly "right." More important, it gives you the confidence to get started.
Lesson: Any plan is a help; it gives folks the sense they aren't aimlessly flailing.

3. Art. The plan is an outline—not Holy Writ. Plans, including recipes, are made to be tinkered with—and eventually torn up. Cookie making, software design, and real-estate lending are art. And it's the artists, not the slavish followers of others' recipes, who land in the world's halls of fame.
Lesson: Blind devotion to any plan is downright dumb!

How about you? See any lessons you like?

Image credit: kakisky at  morgueFile

Read THE HEAD TRIP then grab your mind's steering wheel: State management for better lawyering

For most activities in the practice of law, knowledge of what is going on in our own mind and our brain is one important key to success. Lack of that knowledge is dangerous; we are not practicing self-leadership and therefore are at the mercy of the brain's whims and wiles. Once we have harnessed our own head, we can better understand and help our clients, too. Here's a new book that can help you to master your mind.

I first learned of the unique book The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness when reading this review in The Washington Post. The book's author Jeff Warren (bio here) is certainly one of a kind, as is his book. Click here to see Warren in action at his book's launch. (The book is more serious than what you will see on the YouTube but it is still very entertaining.)

Warren describes in The Head Trip our diverse and multiple states of sleeping and waking consciousness, and many points in between wake and sleep. And he shows us how to utilize these states and reap their rewards. From the introduction:

[C]onsciousness exists in more wildly varied and abundant forms than simply waking, sleeping, and dreaming. By describing some of its stations, I hope not only to give you some insight into the biological and psychological processes that underlie our changing experience of consciousness—to reveal, as it were, some of the operating rules of the Self—but also to show why this matters. When I set out on my adventure I wanted to discover what these states might have to teach us about our own habits of mind. In this I wasn't disappointed. I eventually came to see not only that we have far more agency over our changing mental states than most of us suspect, but also that each of these states taps into its own unique blend of knowledge and insight.

To learn a little more about these states, click on each of the stations on this wheel; to learn much more and to see how to mine the states, read the book. As you read, you will see that the book is aptly named. Warren takes us on a memorable head trip through the states of consciousness. The book's practical benefit is found in Warren's roadmap to using the states for greater personal and professional efficacy. Bon voyage!

Colorado in February: "Transforming the World, One Conflict at a Time"

This event will be held February 15-18, 2008, near Denver, Colorado. Who are the target attendees? From the event flyer:

For MBB Members and Professionals Working in Dispute Resolution: Lawyers, Judges, Peace‐builders, Mediators, Arbitrators & Psychotherapists, & Systems Designers, Educators and Students .

Also from the flyer:

Speakers:

• Kenneth Cloke, JD, LLM, Ph.D., President of Mediators Beyond Borders
• Daniel Bowling, Esq., Co‐Author Bringing Peace into the Room
• Erica Ariel Fox, JD, Harvard Program on Negotiation Insight Initiative
• John Paul Lederach, Ph.D. & Herman Weaver, Ph.D, “Peacebuilding: Songs from the Road”

Topics for Discussion:

• Why Mediators Beyond Borders?
• Strategies to Help Save the Planet
• Current & Planned Projects
• How to Form Project Teams
• Potential Partners & Funders
• MBB Chapters & e‐Support
• Learning What Skills are Needed
• Training, e‐Library & Conflictpedia
• Indigenous/Environmental Disputes
• Culture, Prejudice & Bias Reduction
• Role of VORP & Restorative Justice
• Bias Awareness
• Truth & Reconciliation Processes

See the flyer for more information.

Note (added at 3:55 PM Mountain): Vickie Pynchon who was kind enough to tell me about this event also blogged about it today at her Settle It Now Negotiation Blog.

For you today: Christmas greetings and 100 songs

To listen to 100 Christmas carols and holiday songs, hop on over to Brains on Purpose for the ear candy and more Christmas greetings.

Blog Glob: Monday morning shorts

Excerpt from Ways to Help Children of Divorce Ease Their Longing for the Other Parent (South Carolina Family Law Blog)

When parents divorce, children usually end up living primarily with one parent.  When a child has been close to both parents, it is normal for the child to miss one parent when with the other parent.  The following steps can help ease the children's longing for the other parent:

Hat tip to f/k/a . . .

Excerpt from "Canterbury launches mediation clinic" (TheLawyer.com)

“The University's Centre for Law and Dispute Resolution aims to instil within the undergraduates a culture of settlement through negotiation and mediation rather than conflict."

Excerpt from 13 Tips to Zap Your Butterflies When Speaking in Public (lifehack.org)

If you’ve got a big presentation to do in the next few weeks, there isn’t a whole lot you can do to improve your speaking skill. At this point you just need to make sure you deliver the presentation to the best of your current ability. Nervousness can interfere with that delivery, so here is some advice for conquering your fears in the short-term:

2007 "Lawyers Appreciate . . ." posts

As I did for last year's "Lawyers Appreciate . . ." countdown, I am creating a post where I will link to this year's contributions. (Click for more information about Julie Fleming-Brown's and my 2nd annual "Lawyers Appreciate . . ." countdown.)

December 22 (first day of the countdown)

1) Gini Nelson of Engaging Conflicts
(Lawyers appreciate justice.)

December 23

2) Sheryl Sisk Schelin at The Inspired Solo
(Lawyers appreciate their friends.)

3) Victoria Pynchon at Settle It Now Negotiation Blog
(Lawyers appreciate year-end apprciation memes.)

4) PT-Law Mom
(Lawyers appreciate their staff, clients, deadlines, co-counsel, legal bloggers, and families.)

5) Chuck Newton at Spare Room Tycoon
(Lawyers appreciate cases, clients, judges, opposing counsel, verdicts—all of a certain kind—plus purpose and a healthy son.)

6) Susan Cartier Liebel at Build a Solo Practice, LLC
(Lawyers appreciate the beauty of sunrises, personalities and natures of colleagues, and creative blogging lawyers.)

December 24

7) Carolyn Elefant at My Shingle (also posted by Nancy at Stark County Law Library Blog)
(Lawyers appreciate passion.)