Marshall Rosenberg's Nonviolent Communication (NVC) offers a simple but profound approach to resolving differences peacefully. NVC is an interpersonal practice that can help us to develop non-judgmental consciousness through bringing awareness (and providing alternatives) to our habitually judgmental ways of thinking, as mirrored by our habitually judgmental ways of talking. The basic NVC process to resolving conflicts is to express:

·       the concrete actions we are observing that are affecting our well-being;

·       how we feel in relation to what we are observing;

·       the needs, values, desires, etc that are creating our feelings; and

·       the concrete actions we request in order to enrich our lives.

In our experience, the capacity to work through differences consciously through NVC or similar approaches has been the single most important factor in eliciting a group's collective wisdom.

Leading organizations and resource centers

Center for Nonviolent Communication (www.cnvc.org)

The Center for Nonviolent Communication is a global organization helping people connect compassionately with themselves and one another through Nonviolent Communication language, created by Marshall B. Rosenberg, Ph.D. The website provides the latest information on NVC training opportunities and a comprehensive collection of articles and books about NVC.

PuddleDancer Press (www.nonviolentcommunication.com)

The premier publisher of Nonviolent Communication related works.

Books

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life (2nd edition). Marshall Rosenberg. 2005. Puddledancer.

This is the classic guide to the NVC method, explained in uncomplicated prose by Rosenberg.

Nonviolent Communication: Companion Workbook. Lucy Leu. 2003. Puddledancer.

This is a user-friendly workbook that serves as a study guide for applying the NVC method to your life.

Speak Peace in a World of Conflict. Marshall Rosenberg. 2005. Puddledancer.

Speak Peace is filled with inspiring stories, lessons and ideas drawn from Rosenberg's experience of over 40 years of mediating conflicts and healing relationships in some of the most war torn, impoverished, and violent corners of the world.