WordSmooth

02/06/2025

I adapted the ACE-ing Conflict learning session for a church Connect group, and it was a very invigorating 90 minutes! My signs got a little mixed up, but as they say, there's never a bad time to ASK a curious question.

12/30/2024

Picking the brain of my good friend, colleague, and storyteller extraordinaire Gregory Smith. Last month during our Bridging Cultures session, we were running short of time and had decided to skip a story about Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus.

But then, just as I was breezing by the story, Greg asked me to go ahead and tell it (it IS an incredible story!). He said the moment was right. I asked him later, “How do you know when the moment is right?” He said, “I read the room. You have to feel it.” He then used a football analogy.

Hey, storytellers out there, how do you gauge the timing of when to tell a good story?

12/20/2024

Yesterday was a fantastic day! I supported a client at a meeting where lack of communication had driven a wedge between team members, and the team was at a breaking point. Several of the team members believed they had been offering support to another team member, but they believed the team member did not value the support. This team member did feel supported but was overwhelmed and unable to keep up with expectations. For months, these team members were puzzled about why the other party was not responding as desired. Using curiosity and clarification, we were able to open the window of communication. Team members then could identify and express the previously unspoken issues and create a deeper understanding of core needs and values so that the team can move forward more productively.

12/19/2024

Thanks to for the amazing custom ACE-ing Conflict signs!!!

12/13/2024

Big thank you to my good friend and colleague, Gregory Smith, for the opportunity to lead the Bridging Cultures learning session and others this week!

09/21/2024

The Harvest Respect tagline is, "The harvest is coming. What seeds are we planting?"

Imagine your organization’s wheelbarrow. Is it overflowing with the fruits of collaboration, understanding, and productivity? Or is it half-full of underdeveloped ideas and missed opportunities?

The seeds we plant today determine the harvest we reap tomorrow. May we plant seeds of curiosity, respect, and inclusion. By cultivating these values, we can create a climate in which differences are acknowledged as strengths, and where conflicts generate deeper understanding and productivity.

09/09/2024

Have you noticed how different debating is from resolving conflict?

In a debate, you begin by presenting your case, offering a generous helping of evidence, statistics, and references.

You refute the opponent’s case with more evidence, exposing the logical flaws and undermining the opponent’s credibility.

On the other hand, to resolve a conflict, we don’t start with our own case. We begin by asking a curious question.

Then we clarify the answer to that question, and we clarify the other person’s feelings.

Only after opening the window of communication with curious questions and clarifications does it make sense to share our perspective.

But instead of statistics and data, we share our own feelings, beliefs, and what we want.

So, next time you find yourself in a disagreement, make sure you’re clear on whether you want to debate or resolve the conflict, and choose your strategies accordingly.

08/24/2024

Just received a Top Conflict Resolution Voice badge on LinkedIn. Pretty cool!

08/16/2024

Cool event going on at the - Escape Your Bias Puzzle Room and The Inside Us: Traveling Exhibition. Thank you so much, Majera Johnson, for creating this event and guiding us through it!!!

https://dallaslibrary.librarymarket.com/event/bias

07/19/2024

Thank you so much, Helder Felipe, for the wonderful testimonial!

06/04/2024

Please come to Patty's talk on June 23!
Register here: https://onrealm.org/1stUChurch/PublicRegistrations/Event?linkString=Mzk0YTZhODYtZjFjMC00OGY0LTg5ZDItYjE4NTAwZmRiOTk2

05/13/2024

Please take a listen to Patty's first podcast!

Aicila hosts and produces Business as UNusual to learn from CEOs, Entrepreneurs, Artists, and more what motivated them to forge the path they are on and how ...