by Lorraine Segal | Feb 17, 2026
Jane Austen and the Power of a Different Story Stories have power. Whether it is a story we are telling ourselves, or the story of Pride and Prejudice, stories can educate, entertain, or transform. Story is a key concept in the conflict transformation work I do with...
by Lorraine Segal | Jan 19, 2026
Hidden Resentments at Work? As humans, we are full of feelings at work as well as in our personal lives. But if we ignore these feelings or attempt to push them down, especially negative ones, they will leak out sideways with generally detrimental consequences. I...
by Lorraine Segal | Dec 15, 2025
Choosing the Light of Hope Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanza, Diwali, Solstice—what do these holidays from different religious and cultural traditions have in common? They all take place in the darkest part of the year, and they all bring light in their rituals. The return...
by Lorraine Segal | Nov 17, 2025
Employer Ghosting and Difficult Conversations Have you ever applied for a job, gone through a seemingly successful multiple stage interview process, and then never heard back? I have, and it felt awful. And I know I’m not the only one who has experienced this....
by Lorraine Segal | Oct 20, 2025
Exclamation marks are OK at work! Do you hesitate before using exclamation marks in workplace writings? Women, much more than men, fear that using exclamation marks will make them seem unprofessional. A team of researchers did a series of studies and found that women...
by Lorraine Segal | Sep 15, 2025
Reframing Accusations When one of your colleagues or team members, takes on a commitment, and then doesn’t follow through, it is frustrating! But how do you deal with it? It is quite human and understandable to be disappointed or angry. Honestly, though, do judgements...
by Lorraine Segal | Aug 18, 2025
Disagree, with Respect Disagreeing about something doesn’t mean you or the other person or the disagreement itself are bad. On the contrary, disagreement and conflict are fundamental aspects of human behavior that inevitably manifest in our personal and professional...
by Lorraine Segal | Jul 14, 2025
Sorting Team Conflict What sort of conflict is your workplace team experiencing? Getting clarity about what is causing the problems can help you find solutions. In my teaching and coaching, I share Craig Runde and Tim Flanagan’s useful distinction between good...
by Lorraine Segal | Jun 16, 2025
Discomfort versus Harm in a Conflict One key teaching in my introductory class on conflict is that feelings are not facts. Feelings are real and need to be heard and acknowledged, but just because they are strong, doesn’t mean they reflect the truth of a situation....
by Lorraine Segal | May 19, 2025
Culture eats policy for breakfast—Dr. Katina Sawyer. A number of workplaces these days have beautiful mission statements and written policies that promote effective conflict resolution, fairness, kindness and equity. But as Dr. Katina Sawyer, Associate Professor of...
