PONY Business: a model for resolving conflict in close relationships

Tired of going around in circles, talking about the same things but getting nowhere?

Help me test out an original framework that I have used in my own family to improve communication! A lifelong horse lover, I am well familiar with the mischief that ponies devise to get out of doing things they don’t want to do. I call this “pony business” and the acronym PONY helps me remember how to engage in a far more productive conversation. Now when we’re in the midst of “pony business” I smile and remember this approach.

I developed this framework after working with families experiencing a high degree of distress over inefficient and reactive communication. Human Resources professionals are excellent at conflict resolution, so I read the book Conflict Sparks Change by Faircloth and Bedlivy and adapted the best of their practices to the family unit.

Join me and help test it out? I’m sure your observations will help me improve the model.