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Disagreeing Well Skills Video Series
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New videos issued in October! Ep 5, Ep6 and Mia's 6 "recipe" videos.
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Disagreeing Well Skills Series
Introduction to the Series
Welcome to UCL’s Disagreeing Well Skills Series, with Mia Forbes Pirie, international conflict mediator, coach and UCL alumna. Mia’s introduction gives you an overview of the series and its aim to share the key skills to help you be able to disagree better as well as protect yourself emotionally and grow stronger and more able to have difficult conversations.
Ep 1 - Being empowered in conversation
This first episode explores being empowered in conversations. Mia walks through how to navigate challenging conversations with her top five tips. If you get to grips with these five concepts you will feel much more empowered in difficult conversations.
Ep 2 – Dealing with triggers
This episode explores how to deal with triggers. Mia shares tools to help individuals stay empowered in challenging conversations, even when they may feel triggered or uncomfortable.
Ep 3 – Preparing to listen
This episode discusses how we can prepare to listen. Although listening is a skill we sometimes take for granted, Mia explains that it’s not always easy, and how aligning our body and emotions enables us to be present.
Ep 4 – Preparing to speak
In this episode, Mia explores how we can equip ourselves to prepare to speak and make a conversation a positive learning experience for both parties.
Ep 5 – Conversation Consent: An Introduction (Part 1)
Conversation consent is a core philosophy of Mia’s. Discover what she means by this term and how it connects with her other episode on "mutual respect".
Ep 6 – Conversation Consent: In Practice (Part 2)
Following on from talking about "conversation consent" generally in 'Conversation Consent: An Introduction', Mia explains how you can apply this principle in practice.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: The secret ingredient
In this episode, Mia talks through why respect is a core ingredient to disagreeing well.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: Thinking for yourself
This episode sums up how disagreeing well is at the heart of learning from others and thinking for yourself.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: Learning and growth
When you feel so sure you’re right, one of the hardest things to learn is that you may be wrong, or might have missed something. Mia explains why this is one of the most important skills you can learn.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: Lived experience and feelings
In this episode, Mia shares the two most important things to remember when people are sharing their lived experience or personal feelings.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: The surprising skill that experts use
In this video, Mia teaches you a skill that "may sound weird, but is one of the most life-changing skills you can learn". Discover a technique used by professionals to transform your conversations.
Mia’s recipe to Disagreeing Well: When someone’s upset
In this episode, Mia sets out some guidelines on recognising when someone is upset and what to do.
About Mia Forbes Pirie
Mia Forbes Pirie (LLB Law with French Law 1998) is one of the UK's leading international mediators and winner of the UK Independent Mediator of the Year 2022 Corporate International Award.
Her work ranges from dealing with personal matters like divorce and neighbour complaints to mediating on a global scale for G7 countries, the Government of Mongolia, the EU, the Church of England and Members of Parliament. She has advised the US Department of Energy on using facilitated negotiation to develop legislation, enabling them to reach peaceful solutions and positive transformation.
The subject matters she has dealt with include space, chemicals, oil and gas, sustainability, refugees, same-sex marriage, race, competition law and property law.
Described as “a quiet storm”, Mia is trilingual, holds both a Masters of Law and Science, has spoken at Chatham House on Conflict Resolution and hosted the European Union Commission's Business Awards for the Environment.
Additional resources
Whether you prefer books, lectures, TED Talks, or podcasts, these additional resources aim to guide you in fostering constructive conversations and finding common ground in the face of disagreement.