Real-life Conflict Resolution: The Talking Stick Strategy in Action
Congressional Dispute Resolutions: An Unanticipated Account of Consensus Reached
You'd be hard-pressed to find enough of those awe-inspiring, peace-brokering conflict resolution success stories gracing the headlines. Too often, parties embroiled in a disagreement choose to escalate matters using underhanded tactics rather than attempting to de-escalate and find common ground. But when these tales of compromise do emerge, we tend to miss the lessons they offer—lessons that could transform our own squabbles. One such instance is the fascinating congressional tale I'm about to share with you.
Discord in the Capitol
With the government teetering on the edge of a shutdown in January 2018, the U.S. Senate's inability to agree on a spending bill saw a catastrophic stalemate. Fortunately, a group of centrist senators huddled together to seek a solution, filling the office of Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Their objective? To end the standoff. Yet, as you might predict, chaos ensued.
So, Collins, with a stroke of genius, grabbed a Maasai tribal talking stick gifts from Democratic senator Heidi Heitkamp, and enforcing a simple rule: only the person holding the stick could speak. In traditional tribal councils, this method is used to ensure everyone, even the shyest voices, is heard.
Grab Your Copy: The New Conflict Management
Our complementary special report, The New Conflict Management: Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies to Avoid Litigation from the Program on Negotiation at Harvard Law School, is chock-full of unconventional conflict management techniques that can transform adversaries into partners.
A Solution Framework Emerges
Over the weekend, the group—dubbed the Common Sense Coalition during an earlier shutdown in 2013—shuffled between Collins' office and the chambers of Senate leaders Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer. The swollen crowd settled at around 25 members, not all of whom had a seat to their name. After discussing various ideas, the coalition crafted a framework for an agreement. This proposal involved reopening the government in exchange for a promise from Republican leaders to negotiate in good faith for protections for the Dreamers, young undocumented immigrants.
Ready to Master Conflict Resolution?
Grab Your Copy: The New Conflict Management
Equip yourself with the ingenious conflict resolution methods from our FREE special report, The New Conflict Management: Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies to Avoid Litigation. Renowned negotiation experts share groundbreaking concepts to help you turn adversaries into partners.
Close Calls and Comedic Relief
After the breakthrough, Collins proudly displayed her talking stick on CNN and commented on the stick's effectiveness in managing discussions. Some senators even revealed there were moments of comic relief during the intense negotiations. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham referred to Collins' office as a sanctuary, cooing, "It is the one place we can all go and feel good."
Lessons Learned
So, what can we glean from this real-life example of conflict resolution? While many criticized the need for a talking stick in the U.S. Senate, the strategy did help maintain structure and order in the heated negotiations. Moreover, the stick lightened the mood by adding a touch of humor to the tense discussions.
While we should be cautious not to read too much into real-life conflict scenarios, the next time you find yourself in the midst of a heated debate, try grabbing an object—anything throwable works—and take turns speaking. You might find it helps control the conversation and brings a dose of levity to the proceedings.
- In the midst of a government shutdown standoff, the US Senate turned to an unconventional conflict resolution strategy, as Senator Susan Collins utilized a Maasai tribal talking stick to regulate discussions and ensure everyone's voice was heard.
- The success of this tactic in the Senate serves as an example for everyday life, suggesting that using an object to regulate turns during a heated debate can foster structure, order, and Bring levity to tense discussions.
- The talking stick strategy employed by Senator Susan Collins during the reconciliation of the government shutdown impasse in 2018 demonstrates the power of unconventional techniques in the realm of law, politics, and general-news conflict resolution—showcasing the benefits of negotiation, compromise, and humor.
