I wanted to share some findings related to a mediation skills class I just started teaching.

The advanced undergraduates and MBA graduate students identified "interpersonal misunderstandings" as a major cause of conflict within the businesses and organizations they worked.

They also observed that the supervisors and managers avoided getting involved in the conflict hoping, we guessed, that the employees could work it out themselves.

There were two observations as a result:

1.) the employees wanted their supervisors and/or managers to help them resolve the issues

2.) in many cases the conflict escalated in ways that was detrimental to the business or organization due to managements lack of involvement.

This is why I believe managers and supervisors need to learn mediation skills in the workplace.

What do you think?

Last Friday I completed the manuscript for the 9th edition of my intercultural text, an update to the previous version: http://bit.ly/2oUvCbU.

This was by far the most difficult revision because of the many changes occurring throughout the world:

Refugees in Europe

Tensions to break up some states (i.e. Scotland and Spain)

China building islands in the South China Sea

An increased presence of women in national governments (Canada's cabinet is 50% female)

The growing recognition of multiple gender identities

I'm very excited about this refresh!