Negotiation Information

The Six Rs for Changing MInds and Overcoming Resistance


This article borrows from Howard Gardner's book, "Changing Minds" (2004). In order to get people in conflict to cooperate or collaborate sufficiently to settle or resolve their differences, and perhaps achieve reconciliation, it is necessary that they change their minds. The reason they are in dispute is because they are of two different minds about a particular thing, which is what they are fighting over. People do not change their minds easily. Some people are prepared to be burned at the stake, literally, rather than change their minds, or admit to a change of belief. People cling to the artifacts of their own minds with great stubbornness. This is called resistance. When a mediator seeks to bring parties together, she will encounter resistance. If there were no resistance, if changing minds was easy, there would be no need for mediators.

Howard Gardner has identified six R's, which are helpful in helping people to change their minds. They are: reason, research, resonance, re-description, rewards and real world events.

Reason is employed by way of the use of argument in order to persuade.

Research is used in order to collect facts, also with the purpose of persuading, often a mediation is a conflict between competing facts.

Resonance appeals to the feeling part of the human personality. Does a proposal feel right? Some people rely heavily upon resonance, and prefer it to a reasoned and researched position. Orators and advertisers seek a message that will resonate their audience.

Re-description can be profoundly effective. Matters are often expressed in the negative, but when changed into a positive form of expression, convey a completely different and more attractive meaning. Mediations are often a persistent attempt to re-describe the problem in order to make solutions seem more attractive.

Rewards are an important part of any negotiation, and are usually accompanied by penalties. This is often known as the "stick and carrot" approach.

Real world events can have the effect of changing parties' perceptions completely. Such events may be quite trivial, like going out for lunch. After lunch, what was said in the morning and rejected out of hand may, with the benefit of the simple event of several hours passing and a meal, seem much more attractive.

The ever-present problem of the mediator is that parties do not want to budge, but unless there is some change they start to get impatient. So the job of the mediator is to continue to make some progress, so that there is a perception of movement. This is necessary in order to keep the parties at the negotiating table. So it is helpful to the mediator to be able to play upon the six R's, developing a facility with each one, in order to keep the parties going through the process in a productive way. Ultimately, the matter must be resolved, not by the mediator but by the parties themselves. The combined focused attention of their minds is what will accomplish the result that they have come to mediation to achieve. The mediator, by using the six R's, helps to maintain the process to its successful conclusion.

Charles B. Parselle is a mediator, arbitrator and attorney. He graduated from Oxford University's Honor School of Jurisprudence and is a member of the English bar, then was admitted to the California Bar in 1983. A practicing attorney, he is a prolific author and sought-after mediator. To consult him, please contact him through his website: http://www.parsellemediation.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Ghana: Government-EU Negotiation On Timber Trade Ends
AllAfrica.com, Washington - May 16, 2008
It is the third negotiation since the process begun in December 2006, upon the request of the Ghana government to the EU for such an agreement to be reached ...


Area sales tax part of Legislative negotiation
Mankato Free Press, MN - 16 hours ago
“I know that’s still part of the negotiation,” said Morrow, DFL-St. Peter, referring to a half-percent sales tax for North Mankato, an extension of ...


PCBSI, ALU starts negotiation on collective bargaining
Sun.Star, Philippines - May 16, 2008
The negotiation was preceded by a joint media conference, which was held at the Bethel Guest House to inform the public about some of the important aspects ...
ALU-TUCP eyes to dropping of charges vs. PNP Visayan Daily Star
all 4 news articles


Liberia: LTA, GSM Companies Negotiation Progresses
AllAfrica.com, Washington - May 15, 2008
Progress has been made in discussions between the Liberia Telecommunication Authority and the for GSM cellular phone companies in respect of the ...


APAMO EQUIPS MEMBERS WITH ADVOCACY AND NEGOTIATION SKILLS
LoveFM, Belize - May 15, 2008
... of Protected Areas Management Organizations are today taking part in the final day of a four day training in Effective Advocacy and Negotiation Skills. ...


County schools OK negotiation for land
The Huntsville Times - al.com, AL - May 16, 2008
By KENNETH KESNER The Madison County Board of Education gave Superintendent Terry Davis permission Thursday night to negotiate for land for a high school in ...


Make buying and selling real estate a win-win negotiation
The Coloradoan, CO - May 15, 2008
A win-win negotiation is always preferable to win-lose. Win-win resolves issues, satisfies the objectives of both parties, and usually results in a good ...


Techlabs Announces Negotiation and Expansion Strategy
Market Wire (press release) - May 15, 2008
JENSEN BEACH, FL--(Marketwire - May 15, 2008) - Techlabs, Inc. ( PINKSHEETS : TCHL) reported that it is currently in negotiation to acquire and therein ...
Techlabs Announces Negotiation and Expansion Strategy Earthtimes (press release)
Techlabs Announces Negotiation and Expansion Strategy StreetInsider.com (subscription)
all 37 news articles


The Southern Ledger

World expects US to be non-violent and respectful of human rights
The New Nation, Bangladesh - 5 hours ago
President Bush thinks negotiation with Iran and Syria for peace in the region is appeasement. In other words, he does not mean peace or he does not have a ...
Video: Obama Criticizes McCain, Bush Over Attacks AssociatedPress
'Special Report' Panel on Obama's Offense to President Bush's ... FOXNews
The Case for 'Appeasement' Yahoo! News
TIME - New York Post
all 1,922 news articles


Evening Post

Former Sefton Council leader says he is "open to negotiation"
icSeftonandWestLancs, UK - May 15, 2008
by Mark Johnson, Bootle Times SEFTON’S Liberal Democrat boss said the door remains open for negotiation almost a week after his dramatic resignation as ...
‘Blunder’ of Sefton Council’s £4m land deal Liverpool Daily Post
all 48 news articles

Negotiation - Google News

home | site map
© 2006