collaborativeaction
about
Collaborative Action grew out of two passions of mine: the arts, and communication. The common element is connection. In 2005, through a trail of books, I happened upon the work of the Harvard Negotiation Project. What struck me most as I sat in classes with more lawyers than I had ever seen in my life, was the realization that what they had done over the course of the past 30 years, was to create a teachable framework for enabling collaboration; and I wanted to share that with those who are not part of their typical audience.
Yes, interest-based negotiation was developed with lawyers and business people in mind, and yes, the majority of training happens in the private sector because they have the resources, and because people who internalize these concepts are in the end more profitable. But it's much more than that. Having a clear, well-tested framework with which to organize our communication, whether we're negotiating a contract, a co-production, or with colleagues, allows us to tap into hidden sources of value that go way beyond money. I see an incredible fit between the arts and interest-based communication theory, and Collaborative Action was formed to help bring these two worlds together.
Vicky Peterson is Principal of Collaborative Action and a trainer, facilitator, and mediator with a specialty in the arts. She has designed and delivered Negotiation and Challenging Conversations workshops for Opera America, Yale School of Drama, Boston University's Arts Administration program, Rhode Island School of Design, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts of Massachusetts, Arts and Business Council of Greater Boston, and others. As a mediator she has mediated over 150 cases including small claims, housing, and business disputes.
Prior to coming to the field of communication, Vicky had over twenty-five years of experience working as a Technical Director, Production Manager, or Business Manager for organizations such as the American Repertory Theatre, Brandeis University, Mystic Scenic Studios, and WGBH-TV. She is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, and Harvard University.