Remembering Roger Fisher

I was saddened to learn of the recent passing of Roger Fisher, a true pioneer in
the field of dispute resolution. Mr. Fisher died on August 25 at the age of
90.

For many, Mr. Fisher represented their
introduction to a fresh approach to negotiation, where the focus is on getting
parties to work collaboratively to achieve outcomes aimed at meeting the
underlying needs of all parties rather than the singular wants of one side at
the expense of the others. 

The foundation for his approach was laid out in the groundbreaking book Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In, which Mr. Fisher co-authored with William Ury and Bruce Patton in 1982.  Getting to Yes has since sold over eight million copies and has been translated into 36 languages.

The ideas in Getting to Yes were indeed revolutionary. Instead of coaching a party in a dispute to fight competitively, the authors demonstrated - using clear and simple language and real-life examples - that you could give the same advice to both sides of a conflict – follow a fair process, prepare well, inquire carefully and with curiousity, listen to learn, separate the people from the problem, and explore options to increase value – and both sides would likely fare better than they would have otherwise.

I remember reading Getting to Yes for the first time in the late 1980's and feeling refreshed, invigorated and hopeful of a new way of doing business across the negotiation table.  It became the basis for my approach to negotiation as a lawyer in my interactions with clients and opposing counsel and the foundation for my approach to mediation.  It  also became mandatory reading in any course I taught in the dispute resolution field.  

In 2007, I attended a special Roger Fisher Tribute in Toronto sponsored by 26 dispute resolution organizations from around the world. At that tribute I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Fisher for the first time as well as members of his family.  While his voice was now frail - not the strong and sure voice I recalled from watching him on video - I was struck by his smile, humility and down to earth charm.

Thank you, Mr. Fisher for all that you have contributed to the field of dispute resolution. You have made the world a better place.

For more on Mr. Fisher's passing and his work with the Harvard Law School's Program on Negotiation, go to The Program on Negotiation Mourns the Loss of Co-Founder Roger Fisher.