Conflict Transformation Services
Over 37 years of experience in consulting, coaching, training, facilitating, mediating and non-profit management.Bob has trained over 20,000 people in dialogue, conflict resolution and communication skills and worked with clients across the US and from 17 other countries. His clients have included universities, independent schools, community agencies, churches,, as well as national and international organizations.
Training Programs and Workshops
We expand the capacity of organizations to engage differences among their members and staff while preventing destructive conflict by preparing select internal personnel to design and facilitate effective conversations about tough topics. We provide shorter workshops and longer programs to build communication skills that enable people to engage conflict in constructive ways in organizations, communities of faith, and the workplace.
Meeting and Dialogue Design and Facilitation
Meetings can be energizing, a waste of time or destructive. A great deal of destructive conflict can be prevented by structuring meetings in which people can state their concerns in ways that others can hear and understand. We design and facilitate small and large meetings where sensitive and possibly inflammatory issues can be discussed and constructively engaged, from a single session to a series that runs for years.
Consultation and Coaching
We collaborate with clients to achieve a deep, complex understanding of their current situation with regard to division, conflict and the patterns that sustain them. We advise on best courses of action and customize intervention plans that enable groups and communities to move forward. We also offer case consultation and individual coaching to practitioners who must manage conflict: professors, mediators, dialogue facilitators, leaders, clergy, etc.
Keynotes
We provide energetic, informative and inspirational talks at annual meetings, conferences, universities, religious and civic groups. People leave our talks with a better understanding of the roots and sustainers of division and fresh ideas about engaging difference and transforming conflict.
Transforming Dialogue
In this six-month program I train, mentor and coach practitioners and organization leaders through a self-paced curriculum, live training sessions and online group coaching and mentoring. For more information see my dedicated web site: https://www.transforming-dialogue.com
Bob Stains has had a profound impact on my development as a dialogue professional. My early experiences
studying with him were formative, because he is such an extraordinary teacher, conflict analyst, and facilitator.
When I have a really difficult conflict situation, I turn to Bob, and without fail, consulting with him is incredibly
valuable. He is at the very top of this field, and a wonderful human being, and I am very grateful to know him.
studying with him were formative, because he is such an extraordinary teacher, conflict analyst, and facilitator.
When I have a really difficult conflict situation, I turn to Bob, and without fail, consulting with him is incredibly
valuable. He is at the very top of this field, and a wonderful human being, and I am very grateful to know him.
Bob was able not only to teach the dialogue practice efficiently, but also to invite participants to apply Public Conversations’ approach to local topics. He showed great qualities including keen in listening, understanding the participants’ needs, and worked with the whole class collaboratively.
Partial Client List
- Harvard Negotiation Project
- The US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development
- Kennedy School of Government
- School of Public Health at Harvard University
- House of Bishops of the US Episcopal Church
- National Institute of Mental Health
- Glendale, CA Presbyterian Church
- NASA
- Southern Vermont College
- Archbishop of Canterbury
- BioLogos Foundation
- Fork Films
- Center for Creative Dialogue in Taipei
- CoRe Group in Manila