Full List of Federal ADR Events and Materials (archives)

2020 Federal ADR Events and Materials

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2019 Federal ADR Events and Materials

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Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Noon – 1:30pm EDT
What is ADR’s Crucial Role in Addressing Harassment in the Workplace?

Nearly half of all American workers have been affected by workplace bullying and harassment, either as a target or as a witness to abusive behavior against a co-worker. Unaddressed incivility and microaggressions, as well as unresolved conflicts involving bullying and harassment among co-workers, can have enormous costs to both the organization and its employees. ADR professionals are uniquely positioned to address matters involving workplace respect at the individual and systemic level. Come discover the various roles ADR can play in supporting a safe and respectful workplace.

Speaker:
Geetha Ravindra, JD

• Presentation
• Bullying and Harassment Do’s and Dont’s
• Harassment and Bullying Quiz
• Quiz Answer Key

Watch videos of previous Interagency ADR Workplace Section Education Programs on the Department of Energy’s website.

March 19

What is ADR’s Crucial Role in Addressing Harassment in the Workplace?

Nearly half of all American workers have been affected by workplace bullying and harassment, either as a target or as a witness to abusive behavior against a co-worker. Unaddressed incivility and microaggressions, as well as unresolved conflicts involving bullying and harassment among co-workers, can have enormous costs to both the organization and its employees. ADR professionals are uniquely positioned to address matters involving workplace respect at the individual and systemic level. Come discover the various roles ADR can play in supporting a safe and respectful workplace.

Speaker:
Geetha Ravindra, JD

• Presentation
• Bullying and Harassment Do’s and Dont’s
• Harassment and Bullying Quiz
• Quiz Answer Key

2018 Federal ADR Events and Materials

* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Download it here.

December 6th

SNAP Into It! How to Experience Conflict Mindfully

For many people mindfulness practice is seen as something abstract and fanciful with little real world application or use. Mindfulness, however, is not something to be left “on the cushion.” Rather, it is an incredibly powerful tool we can bring into our daily lives to help with the challenges we are experiencing here and now. For example, as the storm clouds of conflict gather, we can use specific mindfulness techniques – in the moment – to help us respond with greater clarity, wisdom, and calm, instead of responding from an automatic, unthinking state. In this highly interactive session, Professor Phillis Morgan, J.D., will introduce a practical mindfulness method – SNAP BCtm – which she has distilled from centuries of mindfulness practices. Practitioners will work with tools that help increase an individuals’ capacity to see and interrupt unhelpful, automatic behaviors in dealing with conflict, and respond with greater compassion and resilience.

Speaker:
Professor Phillis Morgan, JD

Presentation

October 18th

Transforming Conflict through Hip Hop

Hip hop is a music genre developed in the US by inner-city African Americans in the 1970s. Today hip hop music promotes constructive self-expression and healing among youth worldwide. It can stimulate dialogue and promote cross-cultural collaboration while serving as a tool for promoting peace and understanding. In this compelling and lively presentation, Professor Mark Katz and Rapper Konshens the MC discuss hip-hop’s history of successful conflict resolution and transformation, including its role in their work with the State Department’s Next Level international cultural exchange program.

Speakers:
Mark Katz, Ph.D and Koshens the MC

Presentation Part I         Presentation Part II

July 25th

Verbal Atemi – A Technique for Creative Disruption

ATEMI is a concept contained within the Japanese martial art of Aikido. An Atemi is a strike used to unbalance or disrupt a pattern of intent. This workshop will explore the concept of verbal Atemi through stories taken from the conflict resolution text, Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree: 61 Stories of Creative & Compassionate Ways out of Conflict by Mark Andreas. Join Aikido black belt and seasoned conflict resolver Stephen Kotev to learn how to apply verbal Atemi successfully to high-conflict situations in order to creatively disrupt and redirect a dangerous, unhelpful, or counterproductive pattern.

Speakers:
Stephen Kotev, Conflict Resolution Consultant and Coach

Presentation

May 8th

How to Get People to do What You Want (Without Regretting It Later)

We depend on other people every day at work. Our supervisors, colleagues, and staff may support our ideas and projects, approve, and budget for things we want, help us overcome barriers and resistance, identify resources and solutions, and move projects forward. But what if we are at a standstill or at loggerheads with someone who is not cooperating or responding – or even actively blocking our way? In this interactive presentation, the participants will learn practical methods and skills to immediately resolve impasses and create greater buy-in, accountability, mutual trust, and goodwill.

Speakers:
Dian Killian, Ph.D., President, Work Collaboratively

Presentation

March 28th

For Busy Feds: Boost Your Feedback Skills and See Powerful Results

Effective feedback is the key to early intervention and prevention of serious disputes in the workplace. Ms. Cairnie and Ms. Johnston will discuss the value of feedback and explore the reticence that many feel towards giving and receiving feedback. The Presenters will provide tools and techniques to use feedback in a variety of situations including professional development. Participants will leave the session with a simple model to boost their feedback skills in order to promote a more productive and satisfied work environment.

Speakers:

Tracey Cairnie
CoreVision, LLC

Megan Johnston
Executive Director, Northern Virginia Mediation Service (NVMS)

Presentation
Feedback Tips
Feedback Activities

January 9th

Power Tools for High Impact Leadership

This program is designed to provide you with cutting edge ideas and concepts to help you coach your team and clients to attain their next level of excellence. The speakers will introduce a toolkit to maximize your leadership impact and help your clients transform their conflicts. At this workshop, you will learn to leverage your leadership strengths to achieve the outcomes you seek, test out innovative approaches for coaching and conflict transformation, and walk away with practical tools, including an Epic Impact Plan, for immediate implementation in your practice.

Speaker:

Melaina Spitzer
Founder, Inner Peacebuilding

Saleema Vellani
Founder, Innovazing, LLC

Presentation

2017 Federal ADR Events and Materials

* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Download it here.

October 19

Unconventional Responses to Unique Catastrophes: Using ADR to Meet the Challenges

Ken Feinberg is the leading expert on creative settlements involving some of America’s most devastating moments in recent history. He is regularly invited by corporations, universities, and the government to solve extraordinarily complicated and painful situations. Using wisdom and fairness, Mr. Feinberg fashions resolutions and compensation for disaster victims and families across the country. In the midst of grief and crisis, Mr. Feinberg seeks justice by providing alternatives to traditional litigation, and he has served as the administrator of compensation funds for victims of 9/11, the 2008 bailout, Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon, the Penn State abuse scandal, and the recall of VWs, to name a few.

Speaker:
Ken Feinberg

July 26

Facilitation Analytics™: Tools to Help You Unpack, Analyze, and Navigate Conflict

Have you ever been frustrated when the parties won’t get to the point? Ignore the obvious solutions? Just don’t seem to understand what the other is saying? When the same types of conflicts continue to occur? In this program an experienced mediator and lawyer will share frameworks and metrics that can help you analyze and resolve conflicts more efficiently and effectively, and even help to prevent future conflicts. Conflicts – particularly complex conflicts — occur within systems and relationships and are filtered through an individual’s past experiences and understandings. Learning how to identify where these factors intersect and how they influence communication will help you to more effectively interpret and translate between the parties and help them to chart a path to resolution. Specific examples of how to use the tools presented will be integrated throughout the presentation.

Speaker:
Sarah Read
President, The Communications Center, Inc.

May 10

Part Two
Effective Use of Web-based Software, Surveys, and Scheduling Tools to Provide ADR Services

With federal agency offices spread across the United States and around the world, many federal ADR programs have increased their reliance on new technologies as they provide ADR services and training. The panelists will discuss how their agencies use web-based software, surveys, and scheduling tools to provide ADR to their national and global clients. The panelists will also share their best practices, how the use of this technology can prevent disputes, common barriers to effective use of technology, and the methods to overcome these barriers. It is not necessary to have attended Part One of this series.

Panelists:
Daniel Rainey
Chief of Staff, NMB
Margaret Ross
Conflict Resolution Specialist, EPA
Kevin Buffington
Commissioner and Field Technologies Administrator, FMCS

Moderator:
Michael Wolf
Director, CADRO, FLRA

March 7

Part One
How to Use Audio, Web, and Video Conferencing in ADR

With federal agency offices spread across the United States and around the world, many federal ADR programs have increased their reliance on new technologies as they provide ADR services and training. The panelists will discuss how their agencies use teleconferencing and videoconferencing to provide ADR to national and global clients. The panelists will also share best practices that they have developed, how using these technologies can prevent disputes, and common barriers and appropriate solutions to effectively using these new technologies.

Panelists:
Daniel Rainey
Chief of Staff, NMB
Margaret Ross
Conflict Resolution Specialist, EPA
Kevin Buffington
Commissioner and Field Technologies Administrator, FMCS

Moderator:
Michael Wolf
Director, CADRO, FLRA

January 25

Employee Engagement – When a Human Being Shows Up Instead!

Employee engagement is widely recognized by managers as a key driver of organizational performance, yet polls show widespread lack of engagement, or worse — active disengagement! Research by The Culture Works, including surveys of over 850,000 working adults, has identified ways to: enhance employee engagement; align each employee’s work with the organization’s vision and strategy; build team unity; and help employees learn, grow and build career paths. This presentation will focus on an overview of the resulting What Motivates Me™ Engagement Training, then take a humorous look at meetings and how they affect employee engagement, and discuss a variety of additional ideas for employee engagement.

Speaker:
Dr. Tom Holloway
Manager, Employee Safety & Health Services, FAA Technical Operations
Christine Sharp
Manager for Social Collaboration and Engagement, FAA Office of Communications

January 9th

Power Tools for High Impact Leadership

This program is designed to provide you with cutting edge ideas and concepts to help you coach your team and clients to attain their next level of excellence. The speakers will introduce a toolkit to maximize your leadership impact and help your clients transform their conflicts. At this workshop, you will learn to leverage your leadership strengths to achieve the outcomes you seek, test out innovative approaches for coaching and conflict transformation, and walk away with practical tools, including an Epic Impact Plan, for immediate implementation in your practice.

Speaker:

Melaina Spitzer
Founder, Inner Peacebuilding

Saleema Vellani
Founder, Innovazing, LLC

Presentation

2016 Federal ADR Events and Materials

* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Download it here.

October 20

The Synthesis of Conflict Management and Employee Engagement

Employee engagement and successful conflict management are two essential components of a high-performing organization. Typically they are treated as separate concepts, working independently of each other. The presenters will define and explore each of these concepts and share many ideas on how these two seemingly disparate concepts can easily be brought together. The speakers will demonstrate how conflict management professionals and employees at all levels can advance creativity and innovation by enhancing this synthesis in the workplace.

Speaker:
Linda Stracke
Executive Leadership Coach and Senior Executive
Michael West
Leadership Coach/Consultant, Michael West & Associates

September 20

Resilience and Wellbeing for Conflict Resolvers

“Being resilient” means that a person can bounce back from failures, overcome setbacks, and adapt to changing circumstances. Resilience is the ability to return to a state of strength, health, and success quickly after adversity, disappointment, or loss. We live in a time of complexity, rapid change, and ongoing threats to safety. Constant stress is the new normal. As conflict resolvers, every day, we help people with problems, conflicts, difficulties, and confusion. The conflict resolver’s wellbeing and resilience have an impact on the quality of their work. This experiential and interactive presentation will introduce factors to help sustain health and wellbeing. Participants will have an opportunity to practice skills for hard-wiring resilience into their practice as well as fostering resilience for their clients.

Speaker:
Sarah R. Kith MSOD, CO-OP®
ADR Practitioner

July 12

Mindfulness for Conflict Resolvers

Mindfulness is moment-to-moment, non-judgmental awareness, i.e., being fully present. We know that the quality of the presence of conflict resolvers has an impact on both the parties and the process. We may find ourselves in the middle of highly-charged situations with conflicting parties who are under great stress. Add to that the stress of our own fast-paced lives, and the welter of thoughts, emotions, body sensations, and habitual modes of reacting that conflict naturally generates, and it may be challenging for us to sustain clear, calm, nonjudgmental, focused awareness. This interactive presentation will introduce you to the fundamentals of mindfulness meditation, which builds our ability to be mindful in our work and our lives, and will give you the opportunity to practice a simple technique to enhance the quality of your presence. It is designed for beginners as well as for those who already meditate, and especially for those who believe their minds are too active to be able to learn to meditate.

Speaker:
Rachel Wohl, Esq.
Conflict Specialist

May 17

Crisis Negotiation: Apply the Skills Used By Law Enforcement In Your Conflict Resolution Practice

Law enforcement, crisis/hostage negotiators, and other police personnel use highly effective communication and de-escalation techniques to help calm people in situations that are tending toward violence and harm. In the conflict resolution field parties can become very emotional and anger can quickly get out of control. During this presentation, participants will learn and practice specific skills that can easily be incorporated into one’s conflict management practice. NYPD Detective Jeff Thompson will discuss how crisis negotiators have de-escalated tense situations, demonstrated empathy, built rapport and trust, and successfully influenced others. Better understanding how to defuse highly emotional situations will help the participants become more sophisticated conflict resolution practitioners.

Speaker:
Jeff Thompson, PhD
Mediator, Conflict Resolution & Crisis Communication Specialist

March 8

Character Strengths Are Critical to Successful Conflict Management in the Workplace

Understanding and leveraging Character Strengths is one of the most intriguing ways to master workplace conflict. Positive psychology expert, Shannon Polly, will discuss many of the excellent tools and latest thinking on positivity in the workplace. Ms. Polly will focus on new research and theories related to a concept called, “Acting ‘As If.'” These leading edge ideas will help people address conflict in an intentional and sophisticated manner and achieve better outcomes in the workplace.

Speaker:
Shannon M. Polly, MAPP
Facilitator, Coach and Speaker
President, Shannon Polly & Associates
Co-founder of Positive Business DC

January 14

ADR in the Federal EEO Process: What We Need to Know about Revised MD-110

On August 5, 2015, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) approved the first revision to its Management Directive 110 (MD-110) since 1999. The revised MD-110 provides federal agencies with updated Commission policies, procedures, and guidance relating to the federal sector complaint process as set forth in 29 C.F.R. Part 1614. The updated MD-110 reflects new developments in case law, as the federal workplace and EEO practices have evolved. The revised directive also includes changes required after EEOC amended certain sections of the regulations governing the federal sector EEO process in 2012. In addition to highlighting major updates, this presentation will focus on the effect the revised MD-110 has on alternative dispute resolution and how it is interwoven throughout the federal EEO process.

Speaker:
Victor Voloshin, Esq.
Chief Mediation Officer
U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

2015 Federal ADR Events and Materials

* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Download it here.

November 3

Measuring Skills that Enhance Workplace Interaction

This workshop will present the concepts used by conflict management professionals to resolve disputes in which dysfunctional interactions interfere with employees’ ability to accomplish their agency’s mission. The concepts have been incorporated into a scientific test whereby disputing employees can be characterized by how they express themselves in disputes with coworkers. Through understanding these categories, dispute professionals can coach disputants individually or in groups. We will discuss strategies for using these classifications to plan for successful resolution and a productive work environment. The workshop will also include suggestions on how to apply these concepts to family and community disputes.

Speaker:
Dr. Peter R. Maida
5335 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Suite 440
Washington, D.C. 20015

October 15

Conflict Resolution Day Messages

On October 15, 2015, federal agencies and organizations around the world celebrated Conflict Resolution Day.

October 15

Civility in the 21st Century Workplace

Incivility in the workplace adversely affects our sense of well-being and our ability to accomplish our mission: incivility is associated with stress, absenteeism, decreased productivity, staff turnover, and increased health costs. This illustrated lecture and discussion will (i) review centuries of interest in civility as well as persistent complaints about uncivil “others” at home, at work, on the roads, and on the Internet and (ii) reinforce the power of civility to help us navigate our lives together in the workplace, the community, and the city. To that end, the discussion will offer simple strategies for how to reclaim civility as something that is good for you, is good for others, and can be a useful strategy in preventing and managing conflict in the workplace.

Speaker:
Daniel Buccino, MA, MSW Johns Hopkins Civility Initiative, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Community Psychiatry Program, Johns Hopkins University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry

September 23

The Bully at Work – “What You Can Do to Stop the Hurt and Reclaim Your Dignity on the Job

What is bullying? How can you prevent bullying in the workplace? What are the differences between harassment and bullying? How can you stop the bully if you are the victim? Should you report to the agency about these problems? Participants will learn how to identify the behavior of bullying, to recognize the negative impact of bullying behavior, and to learn ways to stop bullying.

Speaker:
Linda Burroughts-Gover, ADR Specialist
USDA, Forest Service
Workplace Conflict Management and Prevention (CMP) Program

May 14

How Do You Make Decisions

The study of NeuroEconomics is an emerging, interdisciplinary field that works to explain how humans make decisions. People in conflict may respond by working towards resolution, avoiding conflict, or becoming entrenched in their positions. The Speaker will discuss how the brain decides which way to respond and will offer language and tools to use in conflict resolution. Participants will learn new communication skills to promote flexible and respectful thinking.

Speakers:
Mary Atwater
Psy.D, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Family Mediator, Child Access Mediator

March 24

Positivity in Workplace Conflict Management

This session explores the role of positive psychology – the scientific study of happiness and well-being – in the management of workplace conflict. We will discuss positive coaching, positive trainings, and positive facilitations. The goal of the session is to share insight on current studies and trends, available resources, and possible next steps in integrating positivity into our practices. We will consider whether and when to draw on the principles of positive psychology as a valuable and integral part of ADR work.

Speakers:
Vik Kapoor
ADR Attorney Advisor, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Executive Council Member, ABA Section of Dispute Resolution

January 29

Unconscious Bias and the Mediation/ADR Process

This session focuses on strategies, issues, and insights into how Unconscious Bias impacts our perceptions, beliefs, and behaviors in today’s workplace. Real-world case studies and current research are provided to increase awareness of the elements of the Mediation/ADR process that may be impacted by biased communication and perception. The discussion includes: 6 ways Unconscious Bias sneaks into our language, perception, and decisions; techniques for avoiding the “Pygmalion Effect”; why we underestimate how universal stereotypes are; and how the same behavior can have different meanings to different observers.

Speakers:
Charles “Skip” Pettit
President, International Training Consortium, Inc. and former Defense Equal Opportunity
Management Institute Adjunct Faculty Member
and
Dr. Lester Hoffman
Harvard University PhD & Faculty Member, Bias Expert, Researcher, and Author of 3 Books on Bias

2014 Federal ADR Events and Materials

* PDF files require Acrobat Reader. Download it here.

November 17

Consequences of Workplace Intimidation: The Boss Whisperer and Other Tools for ADR Professionals

This session will provide psychological insight into aggressive interaction in the workplace. We will examine individual behaviors which cause emotional distress and disrupt organizational functioning. The speaker will share the Boss Whisperer process and other tools that can assist organizations with eliminating toxic behaviors. The session will also address the current research on the consequences of, and responses to, workplace bullying.

Speaker:
Lynn M. Fraser, Director
Alternative Dispute Resolution Office
Federal Election Commission

October 16

Where do you Stand in the Feedback Loop? Make Feedback Work for You

This interactive session during Conflict Resolution Month will delve into the complex topic of giving and receiving feedback.  The presenter – a preeminent trainer and coach – will discuss how to use our skills and knowledge to help people in organizations work together effectively on communication, performance, and behavior issues.  The session will focus on the use of metaphor, narrative, and strategic questioning to:

1. show parties we hear and understand what they are saying;
2. help them recognize the nuances and complexities of what they are talking about; and
3. provide opportunities for new perspectives and change.

Speaker:
John Settle President,
SETTLEment Associates, LLC
Mediator, Group Facilitator, Coach/Mentor, Trainer, and Consultant

September 19

The Melodrama of Conflict: From Passive Victim to Active Hero

Conflict stories tend to be melodramatic in their content and structure. In this workshop, we will examine the different characters that populate the melodramatic narrative and the development of the melodramatic plot. We will also consider how the melodramatic narrative distorts and structures people’s experience of conflict. Counter-intuitively, we will see how some of the elements of tragedy can better prepare people to manage their conflict more effectively. We will explore practical strategies to move towards a more active, realistic, and constructive approach to manage conflict.

June 24

ADR Settlement Agreements

This program will discuss settlement agreements for contract disputes and protests resolved using alternative dispute resolution (ADR). Topics will include the perspectives of neutrals, judges, government attorneys, and private sector participants regarding:

May 14

Your Brain on Conflict

If you couldn’t attend or had problems hearing the presentation, you can now view the video recording of the entire discussion.

In this workshop we will discuss basic brain structures and functions – how they affect behavior and are affected by behavior. We will also discuss neurotransmitters that are important in both producing and interpreting behavior. This knowledge will form the basis for a discussion of how we can influence behavior during times of conflict. We will take typical situations faced by managers and employees, and apply the knowledge of neuroscience to guide us towards more satisfying and effective interactions.

April 10

Workplace Disruptions, Reorganizations, and ‘Change Fatigue’: Can ADR Support Resilience?

If you couldn’t attend or had problems hearing the presentation, you can now view the video recording of the entire discussion.

Today’s government employees often operate in an environment of continuous change such as the sequester, agency re-organizations, furloughs, revision of job duties, and more. The responses to such adverse situations include succumbing, surviving, resilience, and thriving. How can ADR professionals assist employees to move towards resilience or thriving? This workshop will examine perspectives on crisis management, resilience, continuity, dealing with “change fatigue,” and learning to “manage the unexpected.”

March 10

Respectful Confrontation

If you couldn’t attend or had problems hearing the presentation, you can now view the video recording of the entire discussion.

This workshop will explore how the principles of Respectful Confrontation are necessary for effective leadership in our new work culture. These principles are based on the belief that it is possible to stand in your power, speak your truth, hear the truth of others, and have your needs met in a way that will not cause harm. The use of Respectful Confrontation principles results in a shift in behavior, insight into yourself, and an ease with tackling challenging situations with integrity and understanding.