Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur | Start and Grow Your Own Business 934: Harnessing CONFLICT, PEACE, and a culture of resolutions for team success w/ John Ford
What if conflict could be the key to your entrepreneurial success? Join us as we welcome John Ford, a conflict resolution expert with a remarkable background ranging from law practice in Namibia to involvement in UN-led peace processes. John’s insights will transform the way you perceive and handle conflicts, turning them from obstacles into opportunities for growth and communication. Learn how his journey to the United States led him to specialize in workplace mediation, where he developed unique tools like the empathy set and talking sticks that are revolutionizing how businesses resolve disputes.
Gain practical strategies for addressing conflicts early and preventing them from escalating, a crucial skill for any entrepreneur. John emphasizes the power of constructive communication and the importance of understanding subtle emotions in negotiation scenarios. Discover how building human connections and establishing fairness can lead to win-win solutions, and why empathy and an objective perspective are essential for achieving just outcomes. Whether you’re negotiating a deal or resolving a workplace issue, John’s approach will equip you with the skills to handle conflicts effectively.
Explore the creation of a culture of resolution in your business by building trust and honoring all perspectives involved in disputes. John shares his wisdom on using emotional intelligence to make conflicts productive and how the immigrant experience shapes an entrepreneurial mindset. Through practical examples and tools like feelings and needs cards, you’ll see how structured communication can lead to mutually beneficial solutions. Don’t miss this episode filled with invaluable insights and techniques that will elevate your conflict resolution skills and foster better communication within your entrepreneurial journey.
ABOUT JOHN
John Ford, originally from South Africa, has a law background from the University of Cape Town and began practicing in Namibia. His work in human rights and with the San people during the UN-led Resolution 435 peace process shaped his conflict resolution approach. For 30 years in the USA, John specialized in workplace mediation and soft-skills training. He created The Empathy Set and The Talking Sticks to enhance communication. Teaching at UC Law SF, John authored "Peace at Work." His tools, inspired by addressing feelings and needs, simplify communication. A past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California, he excels in fostering harmony.
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