My Happy Place

May 1, 2022October 30, 2022 | Nayla Mitha

I did the Sparktype test recently and it really hit the nail on the head when it comes to what type of work makes me come alive!

My primary Sparktype is the Maker – creation is my calling :) I’m most alive when I’m making things… whether it’s creating a workshop, preparing for an upcoming mediation, or making the drawing below… I absolutely love the creative process and get completely lost in it.

My shadow (secondary) Sparktype is the Maven – I love diving into a topic, industry or field and learning as much as I can about it… there is so much joy in this for me, but as my results accurately explained, this work is really in service of my primary Sparktype – i.e., love Iearning so that I can use what I learned to make something.

What puts you in your happy place?

Mapping the Contribution System

April 23, 2022October 30, 2022 | Nayla Mitha

When I’m mediating, one of the many things that keeps me on my toes is helping the parties to map out all of the factors that led to the escalation of their conflict.

👉🏾 INTERNAL FACTORS: Was someone having a bad day? Running on no sleep? Stressed out about something unrelated?

👉🏾 EXTERNAL FACTORS: Was a lack of resources at play? A lack of clarity about roles or objectives? Were tight deadlines part of the mix?

👉🏾 THE DYNAMIC: What dynamic did the parties become locked into? Was it tit for tat? One-upping? Stonewalling?

Unpacking these factors generally turns up the heat in the discussion, which needs to be managed… but it’s well worth the work involved because this is what allows us to then move onto the second question – How could they have dealt with each of these factors better?

And that’s where the magic starts to happen :)

The great news is that you don’t need a mediator to do this if you find yourself in a conflict at work (or in any setting for that matter). Many issues can be resolved using this technique and a bit patience, vulnerability, and understanding.