Addressing challenging conflicts with clarity and sensitivity
About
CARA RAICH IS A SKILLED MEDIATOR, FACILITATOR, CRISIS MANAGER AND PROBLEM SOLVER
Cara Raich, a former attorney, is a New York-based conflict consultant and facilitator who leads institutions, organizations, museums, religious leaders, companies, partnerships, family businesses and families through challenging situations with clarity and sensitivity. Cara’s skills include mediation, conflict resolution, facilitation, crisis management, employee relations, respectful workplace trainings, anti sexual harassment trainings and advising on governance matters. Cara is a “how” expert. She knows “how” to navigate the most stressful, conflicted environments. Cara uses this skill to lead productive conversations across lines of difference and complexity. She makes sure all voices are meaningfully heard. Cara creates order from chaos and clarity in moments of confusion so her clients can take productive action when the way forward seems uncertain.
The Work
Leading the way to CLEAR, EFFECTIVE, EMPATHIC SOLUTIONS
Difficult conversations, complicated dynamics and emotional situations are common. What is less common is a thoughtful and skillfully managed process. In this pivotal moment of change in social and workplace culture, challenging situations are inevitable. Progress by definition equals change. Change requires intentional and thoughtful action.
In addition to being a mediator and facilitator, Cara is also a respectful workplace, anti-harassment trainer. She uses her mediation skills to help clients ensure that their cultures reflect their values. Cara has unique experience to execute necessary changes within workplaces. She facilitates hard transitions with compassion, skill and nuance. Cara makes difficult conversations feel comfortable. With many years of experience, Cara uses her kind, thoughtful, empathetic approach to guide her clients. She crafts environments where compassionate understanding, listening and calmness are the guiding principles.
Why?
“How you do what you do matters”
How we engage in challenges often informs outcomes more than the difficulty presented by the situation. This is why “bad how makes bad what.”
“Civility directly impacts efficiency”
Creating environments which prioritize respect matters. No one can show their best work or selves in a hostile, reactive or uncomfortable environment. Civility and respect ensure that maximum efficiency is possible.
“Compassionate understanding leads to solutions”
Acknowledging each other’s views, with compassion and understanding, is a core to solving problems. All conflict is personal because it is between people. The interpersonal dimensions of conflict must be addressed with skill and nuance to resolve disputes.
“Peace is a verb”
Intentional action is required to resolve complex challenges. No matter how ‘peace’ is defined in the context of the challenge you are facing, the status quo will not change itself. Well-crafted processes enable solutions.
The Approach
MISSION, MOMENT, MOMENTUM: A FORMULA THAT WORKS
A unique, unparalleled approach towards solutions. Complex, entrenched or conflicted situations can seem intractable. Moving beyond challenges effectively requires untangling the interconnected layers which comprise the substance of a problem. Cara Raich has developed a system to help people, families, companies and institutions navigate this difficult work. The system is comprised of three levels of work: Mission, Moment and Momentum.
Mission
Deep understanding of both the participants’ mission and of the work to be done, prior to delving into the substance of a problem is essential. Why is this group gathered together? What are the collective goals for the process? Most importantly, how will this group conduct this difficult conversation?
Moment
Resting on a foundation of a shared understanding around why and how a group needs to work together, it is essential to turn to the human elements. How are these individuals experiencing this moment. The interpersonal dimensions of conflict is always present and must be addressed with skill and nuance.
Momentum
How to move forward comes next. Momentum refers to action. After establishing clarity around the parameters of the work and the complexity of the dynamics present, attention can then be turned to action. Emerging solutions must be clearly defined, reflect priorities and be realistic to execute. Solutions which rest on the foundation of good process are more likely to be followed.
Meet Cara
Cara Raich earned her law degree from University of Western Ontario, in Canada, and studied mediation and conflict resolution at the Center for Understanding in Conflict. Cara is a mediator, group dialogue specialist and conflict consultant who began her career as an attorney. She left firm life and spent a decade in private practice as a family and divorce mediator. During this time, she became interested in how the core principles of conflict resolution can help groups of people have productive, respectful dialogues about challenging topics. Finding passion in this work, Cara developed a thoughtful and effective model for group dialogues.
HELPING GROUPS OF PEOPLE HAVE PRODUCTIVE, RESPECTFUL DIALOGUES ABOUT CHALLENGING TOPICS
As part of her volunteer work, Cara has also developed large-scale dialogues on topics such as community, race dynamics and Israel at one of the oldest synagogues in the country. Through her deep experience facilitating difficult conversations, Cara knows how to inspire people to speak meaningfully, listen deeply and take effective action. Cara is a committed listener, thoughtful program planner and innovative problem solver who learns about her clients’ needs and helps them move forward with confidence and clarity.
Please reach out to Cara for a confidential consult at cara@cararaich.com, or by using the form below. Thank you!