Sustainability: The People Factor Your Instructor Lucy Moore Environmental Mediator for 25 years The key to a solid and sustainable solution lies with people 1
The best, most brilliant solution to a complex conflict can be the result of tons of research and fine scientific minds … but if those impacted by that solution don’t believe in it, trust it, or understand it, the solution is doomed What We’ll Cover The nature of conflict (cc) Betsy Weber @ Flickrcom 2
What We’ll Cover Example conflict between a federal agency and landowners near a reservoir (reading) What We’ll Cover Example conflict during LEED building project What We’ll Cover Conclusions and questions 3
Conflict Occurs at Three Levels Level 1: The Substance What are we fighting about? (cc) Tarik Browne @ Flickrcom Level Two: Process where or what is the best forum to resolve this conflict? 4
Level Three: Personal Satisfaction is the conflict being handled so everyone feels comfortable, respected, listened to, and safe? (cc) Jon Collier @ Flickrcom Pay attention to all levels throughout the process; dissatisfaction with one level can contaminate the others (cc) Frederick Dennstedt @ Flickrcom Common Paths to Conflict Resolution 5
Litigation Research and Technology To the Streets 6
COLLABORATION (cc) Chuck Patch @ Flickrcom Collaboration/ Negotiation Collaboration: a process for coming to agreement that includes key interests exchanging information and ideas safely and respectfully The Strengths of Collaboration Participation in the creation of a solution will create a sense of ownership and involvement (cc) Kate Bunker @ Flickrcom 7
A varied group will make more diverse solutions Collaboration is a good way to do business During the process, both sides will become friendly with each other 8
Collaboration is sustainable, ensuring less conflict later In Summary People are the core of successful conflict resolution Without their participation and support, the solution is useless, not implementable and not sustainable THE ARMY CORPS AND THE COMMUNITY (cc) hounddiggity @ Flickrcom 9
~ Pause the video ~ Read chapter 6 from “Common Ground on Hostile Turf: Stories from an Environmental Mediator” Download in Additional Resources (cc) US Army Corps of Engineers @ Flickrcom Resume the video when you are done. What Happened? Army Corps enters community, inspiring hostility due to past conflict What Happened? Locals want their land left alone Army Corps must fulfill its duty to make the reservoir safe 10
Tensions high Mediator enters to diffuse What Happened? Colonel must listen to mediator and community Community must be respectful and peaceful Resolution: The Corps and the community work together, arrive at a solution 11
Lessons to be Learned Bring stakeholders in as soon as possible Lessons to be Learned Focus on relations first Lessons to be Learned Seek out necessary experts 12
Lessons to be Learned Understand each other’s needs and think creatively about how to satisfy them Lessons to be Learned Stay engaged with the stakeholders throughout THE MISCONSTRUCTED BUILDING (cc) Chris Gardner @ Getty Images 13
Example 2: Green Building Project A non-profit organization (XYZ Limited) chose to build a green building in a new community Met community before proceeding listened, answered questions, made adjustments How They Proceeded Chose architect with good local reputation and green building experience 14
How They Proceeded Contractor had good reputation, but little experience with green building How They Proceeded They made their priorities clear to the architect and the contractor Problems Solar calculations wrong and acoustics bad 15
Neighbor unhappy with view (cc) Marie In Shaw @ Flickrcom blame falls on subcontractor and ultimately on architect Outcomes sought acknowledgement from architect that errors were made 16
Outcomes s ought compensation, but ultimately dropped it Outcomes neighbor moved Lessons (From the Owner) Make sure you have experts 17
Lessons (From the Owner) Find special experts as needed Lessons (From the Owner) become an expert yourself Lessons (From the Owner) engage neighbors early and stay engaged 18
My Observations Early contact with the community is important My Observations Hire compatible people My Observations Good communication is important throughout 19
My Observations Acknowledge your mistakes, value of all involved Conclusions Choose your team for expertise and compatibility Conclusions Engage stakeholders/partners early, before conflict arises, and stay engaged throughout the process 20
Conclusions Listen and understand needs and ideas Conclusions Be honest and clear in what you say,develop trust if possible Conclusions Be clear about limitations and creative about solutions 21
Questions to Ask Yourself Do I have the expertise for this job? Do I need to seek help to do the job right? Questions to Ask Yourself Is this a client/contractor I am comfortable with? Do we share the same values? Questions to Ask Yourself Is there a conflict brewing that I should identify and seek help to minimize? 22
Thank You! 23
Recommend
More recommend
