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Third Ear Conflict Resolution

Court sucks. Let us help you create a sustainable resolution.

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About

We are a New York employment law and global workplace mediation firm, founded on June 23, 2003. We help employers and employees build stay out of court and build more peaceful and productive workplaces. Our practice focuses on employment-related disputes because nearly everyone:

  • Has a job
  • Has had a job
  • Knows someone with a job

Work gives us a universal language to address conflicts that arise in environments where humans need to collaborate. That’s basically everywhere. It’s not unusual for our clients to use the skills they develop to also improve their relationships with spouses, children, friends, and other loved ones.


Tired of the adversarial approach to conflict resolution?

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Our Mission and Vision

We want you to have a healthy balance of conflict: enough to spark growth, but not so much it ruins lives. Our vision is a world that courageously and skillfully navigates conflicts while minimizing harm to others.

When those inevitable conflicts arise, we work with you to HAQ them—to resolve them Humanely, Affordably, and Quickly.


https://thirdearcr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Where-Is-Your-Third-Ear_.mp4

Where Is Your Third Ear?

Your third ear is in your heart. This simple concept, and our logo, are intended to remind you to slow down when you are emotionally charged and to look beyond the obvious for the fear, pain, and human vulnerabilities in other people. We encourage you to listen for the hurts you can heal.

As Robert Kiyosaki once said, “When emotions go up, intelligence goes down.” We aim to restore that balance to make you a more effective problem-solver at work and at home.


Our Core Values

We are driven by these core values:

  • Mutuality. We seek mutually acceptable, win-win solutions.
  • Fairness. We are committed to fair and ethical conduct.
  • Creativity. We integrate knowledge from many disciplines to provide a full range of possible solutions.
  • Compassion. We listen for the hurts we can heal and opportunities to make a difference.
  • Integrity. We honor our word and make amends when needed.


Our Process

The Third Ear Conflict Resolution process is a two-part framework that helps you allow emotions to guide not distract you so you can find collaborative solutions to workplace disputes.

The Seven Choices

These are designed to help you reconnect with your rational side. You can repeat them as necessary throughout the process.

  1. Forgive yourself
  2. Acknowledge yourself
  3. Forgive the world
  4. Free the emotions
  5. Clear your mind
  6. Assume you know nothing
  7. Listen with your third ear

The Five Actions

These are typically taken with the other people involved in the conflict. We work with you to define the conflict clearly and succinctly, identify the competing personal interests, explore a full range of possible solutions, and create a specific, measurable action plan. We then help you stay on PARR—Planning, Acting, Revising, and Repeating until you get the desired results.


Photo of Musician Peter Schmitz inside a heart sculpture in Toronto's Distillery District.


Our Clients

Over the past two decades, we have resolved thousands of cases through mediation and other informal resolution processes, helping to keep people out of court through ongoing legal consultations and professional development.

We have decades of experience working with top international businesses in industries such as:

      • Building materials manufacturing
      • Financial services
      • Entertainment and sports
      • Insurance
      • Transportation

As a small business ourselves, we also have a deep understanding of the unique needs of licensed professionals, domestic employers, and freelancers in fields like accounting, business coaching, and social work. 


Testimonials

Nance has a lot of friends [in this group because] she has solved a lot of problems for a lot of people. ~ M.S., Attorney, NY

Nance is an excellent lawyer with a heart! She loves working with entrepreneurs and is one herself, so she completely understands the challenges and needs that one faces when launching a small business. I really couldn’t recommend Nance more highly. ~ B.S., Business Owner, NY

She also has a way of putting you at ease, so that sanity prevails in the legal process. ~ N.K., Attorney, NY

About

Nance L. Schick Affiliates Blog Book Contact

The Seven Choices

Forgive Yourself Acknowledge Yourself Forgive the World Free the Emotions Clear Your Mind Assume Nothing Listen with Your Heart

The Five Actions

Define the Conflict Identify the Interests Play with the Possibilities Create the Future Stay on PARR

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