While we often feel powerless, we rarely are: we always have the option to shift to a different base of power. Drawing from French and Raven’s early work in defining types of power, Scott uses a single location in the heart of London to illustrate the four types of positional and four types of personal power that can be drawn on in negotiations and mediations.

The challenge with “confidential” meetings is that - if we respect confidentiality - it’s hard to use the information discussed. At the other extreme, “on-record” meetings risk individuals not speaking their full opinions for fear of retribution. The “Chatham House Rule” navigates a middle-ground of non-attribution.

A core step in negotiations and conflict resolution is to determine the objective facts of an issue and separate them from the subjective interpretations of issues. That pool of facts gives a framework for discussions to take place. In the age of Generative AI, when imagery and text can be created in fractions of seconds to appear as “primary sources”, we need to focus more on validating data and evidence before starting good faith negotiations.

When creating environments for mediation or negotiation, analysis the space through the lens of symbols, artifacts, and rituals. We illustrate the concept through the communications of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Let the stagecraft carry some of the weight of the message.