In honor of President's Day, today's mediation tip honors leadership, and takes inspiration from Coach JOHN WOODEN, the celebrated UCLA basketball coach. In most mediations, people act, emote, and react to the other side's actions. Why is that? it's because human nature seems to compel us to do so. Where does it get us? Sometimes, a well-placed rant or outburst can help shift the dynamics of the situation; more often, all it gets you is frustration, and the reason is the othe

In most mediations, there is a divide between the parties as to what the actual facts are, and each party feels he or she is the right one. This leads to discussions about the basis for each sides' belief or position. Often everyone simply has to "agree to disagree", but It also happens that an email, memo or other document will surface which turns one sides' version of facts on its head. Their faces reflect bewilderment, "how can that be? All this time I was so sure I was ri