Dana Caspersen is a conflict engagement specialist, public speaker, award-winning performing artist, and bestselling author of Changing the Conversation: The 17 Principles of Conflict Resolution which has been translated into eight languages and is used as a training tool by individuals, organizations, and educational institutions worldwide. Through coaching, training, consulting, and dialogue design, Dana works with people and organizations on constructive conflict engagement and is a leading collaborator of the internationally acclaimed choreographer William Forsythe. She lives in Vermont. danacaspersen.com/

• Table of ContentsIntroduction1. What Am I Doing?What am I paying attention to? Which decisions are mine to make? What is my request? Am I responding or reacting?Am I listening, even when I disagree?Which mindset am I practicing?2. What Are We Doing?What is this conflict about? Who is involved? Who is impacted?What will help me bring up difficult topics productively?What is the question that we are trying to answer?Are punishment and reward being used as control strategies?Are we looking for productive ways forward, even when it’s difficult?What is already working well? How can we build on that?3. What Are the Systems Doing? Which rules of behavior are being (consciously or unconsciously) followed?Which organizational and decision-making processes are being (consciously or habitually) used?Is the origin of this conflict interpersonal or structural or both?On which level is action being taken?Is belonging being used to create polarization? Is (subtle or overt) violence causing avoidable harm inthis situation?Which sources of power are available in this conflict?Which are being used and endorsed?What constructive change is this conflict proposing? ResourcesPower Sources NotesReferencesThe DecisionsIndex

This is an important perspective that focuses on twenty ways of making decisions, with concrete methods to change both our thinking and our doing—our theories and our practices. The way that Caspersen defines power and how to analyze it is extremely timely in a world where we need the collaborative skills to navigate an increasingly interdependent global community. Beautifully written and a wealth of information.