TG Struttman, Caterpillar Inc,OC
Your workshop on Agreements and Conflict Resolution is a powerful learning experience. I am using your model in many business situations. It is very useful for teaming and managing client relationships and negotiating large sales or contracts.
Else Tomayo, Personnel Director, University of San Francisco
Stewart creates agreement and empowerment. He models what he teaches. He is a powerful educator.
Donna Stone
This has been an amazing journey of self discovery through the mirror reflection of other. Stewart, your workshop has assisted me in having a deeper understanding and a greater excitement in becoming pro-active in the development of what I want to create in my life, and knowing that it is not cast in concrete.
Gail Johnson, Sierra Adoption Services
You are getting high praise from all quarters, even from the hard-to-please state bureaucrats. Thanks for your good work and being the kind of professional I can count on to bring out the best in people. You helped to surface some old, old wounds that had scarred over without
healing. I feel much more optimistic about the project, but also about all of our shared work with the district staff. You are an extraordinary facilitator. You resolve issues that stifle productivity and create partnership where everyone thought it was impossible.
Chris Jacob, VP and COO, HeartMath LLC
Several years ago, I attended Stewart Levine's seminar and found that the principles he models are both effective and practical. In my job, I am asked to review contracts that others have sent us. I often find that key elements have been missed in the negotiation process and, therefore, are not reflected in the document. By combining our HeartMath(R) techniques with Stewart's model, I have been able to help folks get more clarity before writing an agreement and create an outcome that everyone feels good about. It's made my job easier and more fun!
Janet Anderson
I learned 1.) that conflict is not a bad thing and can be used to create a better environment if managed properly; 2.) that everyone deals with conflict differently; and 3.) how to keep a cool head and solve problems in an efficient manner.
Robert Rigsby, Esq; Corporate Counsel, District of Columbia
The subject matter of your presentation and the thought-provoking interaction required during your sessions will be resources used by attendees throughout their careers.
Jeff Knishkowy, Director of Conflict Prevention and Resolution, USDA
An outstanding training presentation.
Maya Lynn Gon-Sarela, University of San Francisco
It's always a treat to watch, listen and learn from a master.
San Francisco Recorder
If your goal is to learn new skills consider Levine's course.
Dan Corsello, Director, Napa County Health and Human Services
Stewart has developed models for conflict resolution that could revolutionize the way we speak, communicate and settle our differences.
Stefan Rosensweig, Esq., Executive Director, Public Advocates, Inc.
The model provides a helpful road map in dealing with difficult internal office relationships, disputes, personnel problems.
Mitch Markota, US Naval Air Station, China Lake
A visionary is someone who thinks. A Resolutionary is someone that thinks and implements a plan to make positive change. The world can only be changed and improved when people take the time and energy to make things happen. You are making a difference.
Charlie Stein, NSA
Your techniques can be used to prevent healthy, creative tension from escalating into conflict.
Bill Zybach, USDA
The balanced approach that your model suggests is what I believe creates the possibility of long term resolution, the ability to shift conflict into collaboration. Thank you for shifting my thinking in a way that will allow me to more fully bring myself, my training, and experience to the field of mediation.
Terry Rielly, Swenson Spreader
I enjoyed your message of expediency and the ways to avoid the waste of organizational resources.
Bennett Hirschorn, Esq., IBM
Judy and I really enjoyed your class and we're really enjoying working through conflicts with your model. The few days we spent in the group were extraordinary; we thought about creating agreements at a depth we'd never experienced before. We have already short circuited recurring arguments by crafting agreements like we learned to do in the seminar. Thank you again for bringing the distinction of agreement to our relationship.
Dr. Mayra Fernandez
Thank you for your wisdom, your vision, your commitment and the way you are able to put all those in coherent language for the future of the children of this planet. You helped me so much in the past with the economic resolution with my partner, Shirley. I was able to create a win-win situation. Sorry it's taking me so long to respond with my appreciation.
Rebecca Hubbell , Entrepreneur
Stewart, it has been invaluable to have worked with you and learned the agreement process. It is a great foundation for both business and personal relationships. It guide you to a clear vision of where you are going and helps answer the question of whether, and how far you can trust the people you want to work with. Expressing fears and concerns before moving forward is especially useful. Resolving concerns provides a peaceful place to start from that is very empowering. The process will be a powerful tool to create from for the rest of my life. I am very grateful.
Varoujan Altebarmakian, MD, Physician-in-Chief, Kaiser Fresno Medical Center
Everybody was very pleased with the program and the way it was presented. We as a team saw an application of a theory that applied to our real world. Conflict resolution was a dear subject to all not only in our work place but also in our real personal lives. Having a dear subject makes it more attractive to bond and make people connect easier and throughout the meeting. People were very comfortable with you as a person, your soft mannerism and your being acceptable to them was an easy sell.
F. Ford Loker, DRI’s State Representative for Maryland
“You were able to lead a roomful of legal know-it-alls to a foolproof technique for avoiding the unnecessary communication problems that get in the way of achieving mutually satisfying resolutions of conflict.This was useful not only in representing our clients in negotiations and mediations, but, of equal importance, in “negotiating” the quicksand and minefields of unnecessary strife within our offices. In just a few hours, you showed us with timely and entertaining examples how to reacquire the lost art of listening. You have shown us that only when we truly hear the other half of the conversation, are we empowered to change our minds. Too often we fall into the trap of talking past each other in competing “monologues,” instead of an interconnected dialogue. After putting your advice into daily practice, I find that I am getting along better at the office with staff, at home with my teenagers, and at the courthouse with clients and adversaries alike. Thank you so much for sharing your insight and wisdom.”
Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution
“The participants rated your pre-conference session, Getting to Resolution: Turning Conflict into Collaboration, a 4.0 on a 4.0 scale.”
Dan Corsello, Dir., Napa County Health & Human Services
“Stewart Levine has developed a model for conflict resolution that could revolutionize the manner in which we speak, communicate, and settle our disagreements. Mr. Levine is an attorney who has witnessed first hand the litigious system. He is suggesting that for the majority of issues that confront us in our daily lives there is an alternative, a less costly, and a more efficient methodology in which to achieve our goals.As someone who has spent the better part of the past twenty years attempting to assist people in settling conflicts, I can attest to the value of Mr. Levine’s methodology.”
Ted T. Marsh, President, Two Win Communications
“The techniques presented in your workshops helped me to address the process of recovering from damaged agreements and draining disputes. I used your principles the very next day.”
Karl Bareither, Pres., Family Business Consultants
“Thank you for your help. I appreciate being able to handle this matter without investing any more time, effort, and money than was necessary.”
Bill Brown, Pres., Plain Brown Packaging
“I learned that through simple dialogue with the appropriate parties even the most unresolvable conflicts can be worked out and everyone wins. The process didn’t include litigation or the emotional roller coaster ride that accompanies most conflicts. Being coached by Mr. Levine was a delightful experience and as a result I received the $16,000 owed me without having to fight for it as I originally anticipated.”
John Tate, Pres., Imagewise
“Each of the others I had gotten advice from lead me to believe the only solution was a court battle or the threat of one. I found myself facing a win or lose, right or wrong scenario. Even if I had won, I would have received much less compensation. . . . We each walked away with a feeling of winning, and in a positive frame of mind to get on with our respective careers.”
Univ. of San Francisco, Office of Personnel Services
“It’s always a treat to watch, listen, and learn from a master. . . . There’s a definite buzz for “More!” from our participants.
Jan Gould, Dir., Membership, VISA
“In the workforce I found that the agreement model transcends all lines of management and can be incorporated in relationships with direct reports, colleagues, and senior management. I have seen my direct reports become empowered as they are enabled to have individual input and share in the credit of the results; my management benefits because the entire team is in agreement and harmony as to how to achieve the end results. Now, when original agreements are broken or simply cannot be met, we have learned to use this tool to implement new or revised agreements. This has allowed what could have been negative situations to become positive and productive experiences.”
Steven J. Noble, Ph.D. Formerly Exec. Dir. Human Resource Planning Society
“Getting to Resolution has a set of tools for solving the challenges all managers face: personality conflicts, creating shared vision, resource allocation, building teams, and reaching consensus.”
Lawrence R. Richard, J.D., Ph.D., Principle, Altman Weil Pensa
“The central theme that emerges from Levine’s work is that conflicts can be successfully resolved while at the same time preserving the relationship of the conflicting parties.”
Lord Graham of Edmonton, Opposition Chief Whip, House of Lords, London
“Getting to Resolution is an important book for the hectic time we live in. It is a reminder that civilization rests on our ability to communicate with each other, and resolve differences in a peaceful way. This is true for individuals, organizations, and nations. We cannot afford to file lawsuits or start wars when good communication will get us to the other side of our differences.”
Frederick Hertz, Esq. in the San Francisco Recorder
“If you really wish to leave behind the pain, anxiety, and fear which accompanies conflict, then Levine’s book is a must. If you are interested in learning how to follow a template that moves you from the gut-wrenching ache of interpersonal conflict toward feelings of comradeship, respect, partnership and a sense of forward movement, then you will want to learn how to activate the ‘Steps to Resolution’ prescribed in this ultimately practical and usable book.”
Michael Lanier Former CIO, Charles Schwab and DHL
“Most of us have had to live with a really nasty, difficult interpersonal relationship, whether the other person was our boss, a colleague, or significant other or offspring. If you are willing to invest the effort to understand the model of conflict and the model of resolution articulated by Levine, then you’ll be allowing yourself to experience the relief and satisfaction of ‘win-win’ relationships throughout your life.”
Michael Imberman, The Un-Advertising Company
“Every conflicted situation is a wonderful opportunity to avoid compromise, where everybody loses, and seek new unthought of solutions where everybody can win even more than they bargained for. . . . Your workshop provides a window to an entirely new landscape.”
Joan Hartley, CMA & Associates
“The wisdom in your book far exceeds resolving conflict. It is a wonderful blueprint for excellent communication and life skills.”
Diane Leblanc, Consultant
“In the field of conflict resolution you are the only one that includes a process where people can complete the past (with telling your story, and getting current and complete) and create the future (the vision in action). You are the only one addressing the most critical issue of paradigm shift. Without that, it’s more of the same.”
CEO, SafeHome Industries
"I don't have any problem with your agreement. Very tactfully written. You've spared us both a lot of pointless negotiations over hypothetical details that won't matter anyway unless we get down the road far enough get some real time business experience behind us."
Barbara Cassens, Director, San Francisco DistrictFDA, Pacific Region
“We certainly enjoyed your positive presentation of a topic most folks find very difficult to discuss - "conflict". Your message of open communication and recognizing how past experiences play a part in our individual attitudes toward resolving conflict really hit home to me. From the comments I received during break and after lunch, I believe you delivered timely message to the rest of my staff as well. Your uplifting closing remarks set the tone for a productive and effective afternoon training session for everyone. Thank you ever so much.”
Senior US Government Conflict Resolution Specialist.
Thank you! We got excellent feedback from the attendees. You sparked a lot of interest and excitement for mediation and the field in general. You are an excellent presenter!
Nanda Schorske, Dean of Workforce Development, College of Marin
Thanks so much for the work you did with our group at IVC where we were able to articulate the many issues at play as we plan our future. I believe that your resolutionary process steps are clear, simple and powerful. That process combined with your excellent facilitation was just exactly what we needed to help launch our transformation process! Thanks so much!
