How are you applying what you learned in the fellowship to your current work?
The skills I learned and refined in the fellowship are skills that I carry with me wherever I go, whether that’s at work or at home. I find that the ability to truly understand what’s important for another person and why is the key to understanding a problem holistically, to creating solutions that are realistic and sustainable, and to building an honest relationship with another person. Listening for interests and needs and then asking the right question to unthread a conversation is a type of skill, art, and sense-making that I was able to practice in the Fellowship. I use these skills to understand the needs of my colleagues and internal/external clients to ensure that my work addresses the problems they are facing and to help team members better communicate their needs to one another.

Any advice for others joining the conflict resolution field?
Conflict resolution is a field of work that requires you to examine yourself closely. In order to understand the needs of others’ well, to build brave spaces, and to meet people where they are, I regularly seek out ways to better understand my biases, assumptions, and default ways of thinking. I find this internal reflection important to improving my skills and to being able to better support others while minimizing harm. Lastly, working with practitioners you respect and trust will help you improve your skills while also supporting your own well-being in this work. Holding conflict for other people can be heavy. I find ways to set the weight down through conversations with colleagues, journaling, or movement.

Where folks can learn more about you and your work or connect directly with you?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/judy-jiang/