Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Last Week/Off
This week has been spent finishing up the odds and ends, and I have not been working on the internship as much this week, seeing as most things are "wrapping up". Thanks for reading!
After the Wrap
This week has been one of going through many google and yahoo searches. I am working with one of the practitioners to see about getting some of his articles out there and get published. I haven't ever done anything like this before, so it has been both informative and taxing. I learn from experience though, so this really HAS been a great process.
Monday, March 17, 2014
"That's a wrap"
Growing up I learned that some of our really good friends worked in the movie industry. This person has done many different jobs/roles in the industry from producing to directing, and has done many large films. I won't state his name, but just reference him as a person that I would hear saying, "That's a wrap". As I look back on the terms of internships and the experiences that I have had, I can't help but think that it has all been such a learning experience. I have worked with facilitators, mediators, lawyers and non-profit directors. I have used Spanish and English, and have learned so much. I have had the opportunity to work with people of many different cultures and backgrounds and have been able to watch some of the greatest practitioners in the NW train and work with people in the area to better understand what "conflict" means and how to healthily use it.
As I get ready to wrap up this last term of internships, I want to commit to continuing to learn. As I mentioned in the evaluation post, I have learned that I need to continue being curious and to be a constant learner. There are many things and teachings that can come from the people that I have been working with, and I know there will continue to be opportunities in the future. I don't want to stop learning and developing my capacity for understand conflict, what it means, and how to help others (and myself) to learn how it might benefit us. Conflict is not an easy thing to understand, but I do feel that my internships have helped me to better understand it, and how to use it for good. I know that I am not quite to the point that I could go out and make a business out of my services, but I do think that I have services that could benefit others. As I continue to learn, I hope that I can better know how I can help and provide these services at a level that benefits others, and helps me to follow my passion for understanding and collaborative peacebuilding.
Here is to the future, and here is to the past. I can't help but be thankful, and think about the time that I have had to work with people, and think "That's a wrap."
As I get ready to wrap up this last term of internships, I want to commit to continuing to learn. As I mentioned in the evaluation post, I have learned that I need to continue being curious and to be a constant learner. There are many things and teachings that can come from the people that I have been working with, and I know there will continue to be opportunities in the future. I don't want to stop learning and developing my capacity for understand conflict, what it means, and how to help others (and myself) to learn how it might benefit us. Conflict is not an easy thing to understand, but I do feel that my internships have helped me to better understand it, and how to use it for good. I know that I am not quite to the point that I could go out and make a business out of my services, but I do think that I have services that could benefit others. As I continue to learn, I hope that I can better know how I can help and provide these services at a level that benefits others, and helps me to follow my passion for understanding and collaborative peacebuilding.
Here is to the future, and here is to the past. I can't help but be thankful, and think about the time that I have had to work with people, and think "That's a wrap."
A glimpse at the Future (hopefully)
This week I had the opportunity to attend a training that one of the practitioners I am working with provided for an organization in the Portland area. Unfortunately, the 25 minutes buffer that I provided myself wasn't enough and I was late to the start of the training. However, I understand that I wasn't the only one and that it was simply "one of those days" for traffic.
As I sat there observing the training, I couldn't help but think that things were going well, and that I was getting really excited for the day when I could be the one providing such a training. I watched the trainers interact with the people, and provide them with skills on dealing with conflict in the workplace. There were people from different departments of the organization, and most of them didn't know each other. However, the ability of the trainers to make all feel welcome and help them to work together was amazing. It was done with such great skill that I didn't know until later that they were different departments and many hadn't know each other before. This continued to excite me.
I felt like a little schoolboy watching his dad give a presentation on what he does as show and tell, and being both so proud of their parent and so excited to be them someday. While the trainers aren't old enough to be my parents, and it doesn't seem as though we have that relationship, the help that they have provided me as mentors in my studies and during the course of my internship has been that of a caring guardian. I am grateful for this, and can't help but be excited that someday I can not only be able to provide the training types of services for organizations, but also to mentor another person interested in the field to see a glimpse of their possible future as well.
As I sat there observing the training, I couldn't help but think that things were going well, and that I was getting really excited for the day when I could be the one providing such a training. I watched the trainers interact with the people, and provide them with skills on dealing with conflict in the workplace. There were people from different departments of the organization, and most of them didn't know each other. However, the ability of the trainers to make all feel welcome and help them to work together was amazing. It was done with such great skill that I didn't know until later that they were different departments and many hadn't know each other before. This continued to excite me.
I felt like a little schoolboy watching his dad give a presentation on what he does as show and tell, and being both so proud of their parent and so excited to be them someday. While the trainers aren't old enough to be my parents, and it doesn't seem as though we have that relationship, the help that they have provided me as mentors in my studies and during the course of my internship has been that of a caring guardian. I am grateful for this, and can't help but be excited that someday I can not only be able to provide the training types of services for organizations, but also to mentor another person interested in the field to see a glimpse of their possible future as well.
Mid-Term Evaluations
This week we were asked to discuss a few things with our supervisors regarding the internship and how we are progressing with things. Let me just first say that this was very insightful and helpful, and I am appreciative of the feedback. In general, I always grateful for constructive criticism and feedback (even if it doesn't seem like it at the time I receive it). I was getting ready to leave town for the weekend and sent the evaluation to my supervisor to fill out and get back to me.
I was in the middle of NE Oregon when I saw an email that she had received/solicited feedback from the people I've been working with and that she was wanting to talk. I called her and let her know that I was driving and had all the time that she needed to talk. We ended up talking for about 2 hours total, with a small break between so that she could wrap some other things up. The conversation went very well, and she had great feedback from those I have worked with.
Some of the things that we talked about was the idea of being curious, and to ask questions of those that have experience. I sometimes feel like I have something that I need to prove, or that I need to be seen as someone that has training and knowledge in the field of study that I am in. While it may be true that I do have some training, experience and knowledge, it is also true that I can't possibly have the insight that someone in the field for 10-20 years would have. Thus, the idea of being curious and asking why they do things they do or how they came to that conclusion, or what would they do differently, or in a different circumstance. This was some of the feedback from both my supervisor and those that I have been working with.
Following up/checking in is another thing that sometimes I have a hard time doing. As a grad student/employee/husband/new-father sometimes I get busy and become forgetful of the things that I have going on, and I forget to check in on the assignments that I have and letting people know my progress. I often just work on things, but need to make sure that I am keeping abreast those with whom I am working so they can know I am in fact working on things, and that they and the assignment haven't been forgotten.
We talked about many other things, but overall these were the ideas that stood out to me, that I need to remember that I can ALWAYS learn something from those I am working with and that I need to be better at staying in the loop, and keep others in the loop. The process was very helpful for me, and I believe has cause me to try a bit harder... hopefully it shows.
I was in the middle of NE Oregon when I saw an email that she had received/solicited feedback from the people I've been working with and that she was wanting to talk. I called her and let her know that I was driving and had all the time that she needed to talk. We ended up talking for about 2 hours total, with a small break between so that she could wrap some other things up. The conversation went very well, and she had great feedback from those I have worked with.
Some of the things that we talked about was the idea of being curious, and to ask questions of those that have experience. I sometimes feel like I have something that I need to prove, or that I need to be seen as someone that has training and knowledge in the field of study that I am in. While it may be true that I do have some training, experience and knowledge, it is also true that I can't possibly have the insight that someone in the field for 10-20 years would have. Thus, the idea of being curious and asking why they do things they do or how they came to that conclusion, or what would they do differently, or in a different circumstance. This was some of the feedback from both my supervisor and those that I have been working with.
Following up/checking in is another thing that sometimes I have a hard time doing. As a grad student/employee/husband/new-father sometimes I get busy and become forgetful of the things that I have going on, and I forget to check in on the assignments that I have and letting people know my progress. I often just work on things, but need to make sure that I am keeping abreast those with whom I am working so they can know I am in fact working on things, and that they and the assignment haven't been forgotten.
We talked about many other things, but overall these were the ideas that stood out to me, that I need to remember that I can ALWAYS learn something from those I am working with and that I need to be better at staying in the loop, and keep others in the loop. The process was very helpful for me, and I believe has cause me to try a bit harder... hopefully it shows.
Monday, March 10, 2014
The right Questions
This last week I was able to work on a case with my supervisor, that addressed a working group conflict. I was given the background information regarding the case, and was able to dissect the issue and talk about it with my supervisor. She then asked me to come up with some questions that we could ask the people of the group that would help us to better understand where they stood, and how we might be of use and service to them. I came up with about 10 questions and then sent them on to her to look over.
I sent the questions over and asked my supervisor to take a look. She looked them over, and then sent me her questions. She asked me what i saw that was different from my questions. She had been able to work at getting to the crux of the situation and heart of the conflict in just a few short questions. Her questions were direct and to the point of the issue, working to move the conflict forward and gauge the interest of the parties to resolve and be proactive. My questions were more gauged at building up the team and assessing their introspective ways of relationship building. While my questions weren't bad questions, they weren't direct in addressing the conflict and were actually much more indirect than they should have been or needed to be.
It was a very helpful exercise for me to understand not only the importance of questions, but the importance of the right questions. I read an article a few years ago by Clayton Christensen that addressed the very issue of asking the right questions. If we don't ask the right questions then we won't get the answers that we need or are looking for. For example, if I am craving an apple, I could ask my wife if there is any more fruit, and she could say yes. If I asked her to please get me an apple, then she could say yes, but also help to achieve the desired outcome. Often times we indirectly ask people the things that we want, like food or gifts, instead of asking directly for the things that we want. Asking the right questions makes all the difference when trying to progress and move toward the desired outcome, whether in satisfying a food craving or helping to resolve a conflict at the workplace.
I sent the questions over and asked my supervisor to take a look. She looked them over, and then sent me her questions. She asked me what i saw that was different from my questions. She had been able to work at getting to the crux of the situation and heart of the conflict in just a few short questions. Her questions were direct and to the point of the issue, working to move the conflict forward and gauge the interest of the parties to resolve and be proactive. My questions were more gauged at building up the team and assessing their introspective ways of relationship building. While my questions weren't bad questions, they weren't direct in addressing the conflict and were actually much more indirect than they should have been or needed to be.
It was a very helpful exercise for me to understand not only the importance of questions, but the importance of the right questions. I read an article a few years ago by Clayton Christensen that addressed the very issue of asking the right questions. If we don't ask the right questions then we won't get the answers that we need or are looking for. For example, if I am craving an apple, I could ask my wife if there is any more fruit, and she could say yes. If I asked her to please get me an apple, then she could say yes, but also help to achieve the desired outcome. Often times we indirectly ask people the things that we want, like food or gifts, instead of asking directly for the things that we want. Asking the right questions makes all the difference when trying to progress and move toward the desired outcome, whether in satisfying a food craving or helping to resolve a conflict at the workplace.
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
The Execution...
No, no, no, there was no literal execution of anyone. The title is referring to, and following up on, the last post regarding the preparation and the planning. We were able to have the strategic planning meeting this week, as facilitated by M. She was great, and confident in the plan and her ability to work with this group because we had put in the hours to prepare and understand the scope of the organization and the meeting itself. We had data from surveys, charts, a "sticky wall" and markers galore.
We got there early to be able to set up the room in a manner that would facilitate conversation, and be inclusive of those present. I pulled out my ipad and keyboard to be ready for note taking... and munched on some oatmeal my wife had made for breakfast to take with me. As people came in we greeted them and answered any questions. The only hiccup was regarding the facilities and the ability to "plug-in" to the network to be able to use the projector. It was a very odd configuration as the projector was really nice and new, but pointed slightly toward the ceiling, and all of the cables to connect it were nearly a decade old. Luckily, there were others that came prepared for such a situation, and we set up another projector.
The point of all of this, is that with the preparation and coming ready to a meeting, regardless of what the meeting is for, is always helpful so that you might have a good execution. Being able to execute responsibilities well is, once again, only possible if you are ready and prepared.
We got there early to be able to set up the room in a manner that would facilitate conversation, and be inclusive of those present. I pulled out my ipad and keyboard to be ready for note taking... and munched on some oatmeal my wife had made for breakfast to take with me. As people came in we greeted them and answered any questions. The only hiccup was regarding the facilities and the ability to "plug-in" to the network to be able to use the projector. It was a very odd configuration as the projector was really nice and new, but pointed slightly toward the ceiling, and all of the cables to connect it were nearly a decade old. Luckily, there were others that came prepared for such a situation, and we set up another projector.
The point of all of this, is that with the preparation and coming ready to a meeting, regardless of what the meeting is for, is always helpful so that you might have a good execution. Being able to execute responsibilities well is, once again, only possible if you are ready and prepared.
Meetings, Meetings, Meetings
This weeks was one full of meetings... probably couldn't tell from the title, huh? One of my meetings was to help prep for an upcoming facilitated meeting that we would be doing for an organization working on their strategic plan for the next few years. It was the first meeting with this person, and it was great! We discussed some of the findings that she had from surveys and initial assessment of the organization. She had been working with the director of the program/organization and sent me over the materials beforehand. It was great to be able to sit down and talk openly about what we might do and how we might do it. I loved it because it felt like I was another colleague, and not just an intern.
As soon as I left that meeting, I rushed over to another meeting for an upcoming training. This meeting was also great because I was able to see the process of planning for a training, and the collaborative back and forth between those paying for the service and those providing the training. As appropriate, I also shared my input in this meeting, but I knew that I was not the expert in this meeting and that I was there to observe more than anything (which I appreciated very much). It was actually really nice to observe (and take notes) for the upcoming training and to see what this process looks like.
A couple of days later we met again with another potential partnership and hammered out a few details about what something might look like and how we could make it work. We chatted over coffee and tea, and talked about the potential that this opportunity could have. As this setting was more casual, I was more able to voice my thoughts and opinions, and share some of my experiences from business and work. Once again, I felt more like a colleague than an intern, and was grateful that I could sit in with two great minds working to come together in a collaborative venture. It's in the details and preparation that great things come about, and the meetings of this week were those opportunities to work on the both of these.
As soon as I left that meeting, I rushed over to another meeting for an upcoming training. This meeting was also great because I was able to see the process of planning for a training, and the collaborative back and forth between those paying for the service and those providing the training. As appropriate, I also shared my input in this meeting, but I knew that I was not the expert in this meeting and that I was there to observe more than anything (which I appreciated very much). It was actually really nice to observe (and take notes) for the upcoming training and to see what this process looks like.
A couple of days later we met again with another potential partnership and hammered out a few details about what something might look like and how we could make it work. We chatted over coffee and tea, and talked about the potential that this opportunity could have. As this setting was more casual, I was more able to voice my thoughts and opinions, and share some of my experiences from business and work. Once again, I felt more like a colleague than an intern, and was grateful that I could sit in with two great minds working to come together in a collaborative venture. It's in the details and preparation that great things come about, and the meetings of this week were those opportunities to work on the both of these.
Presentation to Learn
The second week of the internship, while still courting some of the people that I was hoping to work with, I was invited to attend a presentation of one of the potential internship opportunities. I was invited to attend a group of members for an Organization Change and Development for the Oregon/Portland area. As I walked in, I was definitely the youngest member in attendance (by 5-10 years minimum). I went and met the presenter, and then found a seat. After letting my wife know that I had safely made it to the location, I sat back and enjoyed the presentation.
During the presentation the presenter would pause and ask for feedback, ask questions and invite discussion. At a couple of parts we were invited to discuss things in a small group (those at the same table) and see what our thoughts were on how things were "meshing" thus far with our ideas and experiences. Many at the table had been in the position of manager, facilitator or been asked to "intervene" in a hot situation (but not quite as a mediator). The presenter was a mediator and conflict resolver, in particular as someone that specializes in workplace disputes. As someone that is working on a master's in Conflict and Dispute resolution, I was shocked to hear some of the commentary regarding mediation and facilitate dialogue, and that it was seen as manipulative and deceitful. My view of mediation is that of helpful, and providing some of the tools that you have learned to others in order to help others resolve an issue that they would otherwise be unable to resolve themselves. While I don't, and didn't, agree with some of the commentary, I just listened to see how people view the field that I am so interested to enter. It was an enlightening perspective, and informs me that I need to lay some ground work in the beginning so that people know what mediation is, and how it can help. The only way to change the view of others is to show another way, and that can only be done by those that take the time to listen and learn, so that you might help those that you are specifically asked to help. Otherwise, we will be ill equipped to put out any fires.
During the presentation the presenter would pause and ask for feedback, ask questions and invite discussion. At a couple of parts we were invited to discuss things in a small group (those at the same table) and see what our thoughts were on how things were "meshing" thus far with our ideas and experiences. Many at the table had been in the position of manager, facilitator or been asked to "intervene" in a hot situation (but not quite as a mediator). The presenter was a mediator and conflict resolver, in particular as someone that specializes in workplace disputes. As someone that is working on a master's in Conflict and Dispute resolution, I was shocked to hear some of the commentary regarding mediation and facilitate dialogue, and that it was seen as manipulative and deceitful. My view of mediation is that of helpful, and providing some of the tools that you have learned to others in order to help others resolve an issue that they would otherwise be unable to resolve themselves. While I don't, and didn't, agree with some of the commentary, I just listened to see how people view the field that I am so interested to enter. It was an enlightening perspective, and informs me that I need to lay some ground work in the beginning so that people know what mediation is, and how it can help. The only way to change the view of others is to show another way, and that can only be done by those that take the time to listen and learn, so that you might help those that you are specifically asked to help. Otherwise, we will be ill equipped to put out any fires.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Last Term of Internships
Well this is the last term that I will be doing an official internship for the degree. I have really been trying to make an effort to meet up with local practitioners in the field and work with them for my internship. I have done this so that I might be able to see what it looks like to live and work in this field out in the "real" world and not just in the classroom. For this term, I tried to get in touch with old professors that were working in the field, but none of them had anything going on, and were unable to take on an intern. However, one of them gave me the names of some other practitioners. I contacted them, and all of them responded positively, for which I am extremely grateful.
I am really looking forward to this semester, as it seems that I will have a variety of work going on, and different aspects of the "Conflict Resolution" world. I know that I will be helping with facilitation, and presentations, and if I am lucky maybe some mediations. The winter break was much needed to be able to get some rest, and rejuvenation so that I can stay busy and keep working on getting things done for the degree. I have enjoyed it thus far, and look forward to it being over, so that I might be able to get out there and work with people out there, but not have to worry about the burden of the grade. So here is to looking forward for this term.
I am really looking forward to this semester, as it seems that I will have a variety of work going on, and different aspects of the "Conflict Resolution" world. I know that I will be helping with facilitation, and presentations, and if I am lucky maybe some mediations. The winter break was much needed to be able to get some rest, and rejuvenation so that I can stay busy and keep working on getting things done for the degree. I have enjoyed it thus far, and look forward to it being over, so that I might be able to get out there and work with people out there, but not have to worry about the burden of the grade. So here is to looking forward for this term.
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