Erika Deines
ADR – ARTISTRY in DISPUTE RESOLUTION
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Born in Austria, Erika spent six years in Singapore working for the Austrian Trade Commission assisting in bi-lingual resolution of cross-cultural trade disputes. She honed her skills internationally before settling in Alberta. Now residing in Lethbridge, one of the many industries Erika offers her years of experience in mediation to are large oil and gas companies.
She possesses the necessary skills to effectively resolve conflicts that arise between companies and landowners when drilling a well saying, “Mediation is a collaborative process, an alternative to the adversarial legal system and a way to avoid lengthy and costly hearings.”
Erika also assists companies to create healthy and cooperative team working environments saying, “Managers spend up to 40% of their time dealing with conflict and yet most companies don’t invest in conflict management training.” Adding emphatically, “When managers and employees aren’t able to work together as a team the cost (to companies and employees) in lost productivity and stress related absenteeism is tremendous!”
Individuals receive conflict coaching prior to mediation to prepare them for negotiation, Erika states, “This helps to identify conflicting communication styles.” She continues, “The way I talk to people allows me to analyze language and specific behaviours; to know what ‘triggers’ to watch for so I can facilitate a better understanding between them.”
Erika combines conflict coaching with what she considers to be her most valuable tool, LAB profiling (language and behaviour patterns). Erika interviews staff individually prior to mediation explaining, “Their language reveals behaviours and habits created in each individual throughout their lives; over years.”
Adding with conviction, “Life and work cannot be separated. Using LAB in a specific context, i.e. working as a team or planning the family vacation, I can profile a person accurately and give feedback regarding that person’s behavioural patterns. I can overlay their motivational traits to determine why they’re having difficulty communicating. Once recognized they (behaviours and habits) can be dealt with.” A feather in Erika’s cap is being one of only two LAB profile consultants and trainers in Western Canada. She has also designed workshops in corporate communication for individual organizations.
The passion and excitement in Erika’s voice rose when she began talking about the more personal side of mediation. Her skills and knowledge help everyday people in everyday situations. A common and often stressful scenario is divorce, especially when children are involved.
Erika said, “With my help some of the stress may be alleviated by mediation, negotiating and finally agreeing to a solution that is fair to all parties. I can assist with a parenting plan to ensure both parent’s and children’s needs are met.” She continues, “Sometimes all that’s necessary is a trial separation that could end in reconciliation, I’ve seen that happen more than once.”
Erika teaches mediation at Royal Roads University and believes all of us can resolve our own problems saying, “All behaviour at its origin had good intention. People make the best possible choices they can at any given time. You don’t know what you don’t know; you do the best with what you know.” Adding, “One cannot not communicate; I’m intrigued by that, basically when we don’t talk we are still always communicating.”
When Erika is not helping others she loves to spend time skiing and hiking and is presently working closely with contractors to finish her log cabin in Kimberly saying, “My dream is basically to have the freedom to live where I want.”
She also enjoys going to corner pubs to listen to local artists, “I like all types of music and appreciate people who follow their passions.” Erika should know because she’s going full circle following her own stating, “I’m a believer in life long learning because everything changes over time.”
by Carmen Borthwick
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