Reflections on Day 2

Laying the ground rules proved to be an interesting start. I understand that we are going in with a short amount of preparation time and it really shows. It reinforces the fact that it's better to be over prepared than under prepared. By defining group roles it enables active listening by those who aren't talking. This is critical especially when a discrepancy occurs. Even when you are trying to take notes of events as they take place, it's hard to stay focused and present. I found myself listening intently and forgetting to document what was being said. Lap tops certainly help the negotiation process. Instead of having to write stuff down, we can easily type what is being said and stay up to pace. When a particular side comes in with a specific and somewhat unusual request for ground rules it can immediately create an atmosphere of uncertainty and cautiousness. This is where preparation and knowledge really come in to play. By addressing requests will calmness and preparedness we can alleviate feelings of animosity and tension. I think this exercise will be a great learning experience considering our time constraints. If the ground rule laying is any indicator, it should be a valuable learning experience.