Insights & Resources

This article by Brennan Torregrossa of GSK - "Meditate to Mediate: 3 Tips for In-house Counsel to Mediate Better Outcomes" - reminds us that approach, how you set yourself up in advance for any task or conversation, is an essential part of interaction. This applies not just in mediation for in-house lawyers but also for recruiting and every interaction in life.

How different could the outcome be if, before we entered a situation or dialog, we took time to get quiet, center ourselves, and, as Brennan says, intentionally "let go" of the past to view that interaction in present moment while aiming to keep an open mind and bringing all of our creativity to bear in the interaction instead of negativity?

This resonates with what a General Counsel candidate said to us recently in a candid conversation about his approach to working with business people: "I don't want to be viewed as the Department of No. I want to be viewed as the Department of How We Get There."

As Lori Carpenter always says, "It isn't what you say but how you say it." It makes all the difference in shifting the conversation or interaction to constructive, creative ways of building solutions together, rather than shutting down the potential of generative problem solving by being the "Department of No" from the outset.

Now, maybe there is an impasse where a solution cannot be found; however, it won't be for a lack of trying or creativity on your part. Also, with that consistent, open, engaging approach to interaction, it makes starker the contrast when you have to draw a hard line authentically in a "smash the vase" moment, as Brennan calls it. You have done everything to validate the other party and come to a solution, but, in the end, you confidently, respectfully, and convincingly show that you are at your "limit of what you are willing to do."

The personal touches you bring to your interactions matter, especially in an age where time is limited and people are pushed to their professional max. It may seem like it takes more time than you have to show that your consideration is not limited to just you and your view of any particular issue, but that time spent building rapport becomes invaluable as you set a tone that fosters building outcomes instead of walls.

Perhaps a draw is inevitable, that hard line in the sand, but perhaps it is not. As Brennan said, this approach helped his father settle cases nobody else could, and, at the end of the day, I am sure most of us would agree that we would prefer to be known for being that type of person instead of a "Department of No."

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Read "Meditate to Mediate: 3 Tips for In-house Counsel to Mediate Better Outcomes" by Brennan Torregrossa on Corporate Counsel Now, Powered by ACC: 
https://corporatecounselnow.com/meditate-mediate-3-tips-house-counsel-mediate-better-outcomes