Margisons was founded on the premise that conflict can and should WORK TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.

Our Story

 

When conflict is managed badly, everyone loses. There are telltale human mistakes people make in conflict, such as avoiding conflict altogether, or skipping straight to a disproportionately aggressive response. These mistakes almost always go along with losing sight of the big picture and lead to an undesirable outcome, ​​when there is the potential to turn conflict into an advantage.

With every passing day of litigation, clients lose more and more control over the outcome. Eventually, there’s a winner and a loser. After all the money, time, stress and mess, there’s still no guarantee either side will get their desired outcome. It almost always spells the end of a relationship.

Conflict is more than just a legal problem. It's a PEOPLE problem. 70% of our approach to conflict happens before we begin any kind of verbal or physical communication. This shows up in our lives as unkept promises, increased employee absenteeism, bullying, or even physical violence.

At Margisons, we know there is a better way to RESPOND TO conflict.

We don’t need to respond to conflict blindly, falling into a victim mentality, or going straight to anger. Your response shouldn’t leave you vulnerable to legal action if a solution can’t be reached. Conflict is a natural result of engaging with others, and goes hand-in-hand with progress, growth and success.

 
 

We believe that when you respond to conflict in a tactful manner, you can turn it into a massive advantage. You not only solve the problem at hand, but become equipped to be even more successful in the future. Our pillars of service empower our clients to advocate for themselves by using appropriate, measured and strategic methods that maximize the opportunity for a collaborative relationship going forward.

We don’t need to respond to conflict blindly, falling into a victim mentality, or going straight to anger. Your response shouldn’t leave you vulnerable to legal action if a solution can’t be reached. Conflict is a natural result of engaging with others, and goes hand-in-hand with progress, growth and success.

 
 

We believe that when you respond to conflict in a tactful manner, you can turn it into a massive advantage. You not only solve the problem at hand, but become equipped to be even more successful in the future. Our pillars of service empower our clients to advocate for themselves by using appropriate, measured and strategic methods that maximize the opportunity for a collaborative relationship going forward.

The way you or your organization responds to conflict in tough situations can define you.

How do you want to be defined?

We help you strategically engage in and navigate conflict to strengthen relationships, prove your value, and take back control while protecting your pocketbook from legal fees. (You’re welcome.)

Humans are at the heart of each conflict, so human nature must be taken into account. That’s why Margisons pursues these values:

  • Kindness

    You can be firm while being kind, and you can be kind while still being firm. We believe that being kind and effectively responding to conflict go hand-in-hand, and pays off immensely in the future.

  • Empowerment

    We use knowledge, skills and insights to empower our clients to effectively engage in and navigate conflict and negotiation in all parts of their lives — now and in the future.

  • Strategy

    We untangle problems to understand the range of potential causes, and consider the short-term and long-term implications of the conflict. We always keep the parties’ overall goals for the situation and the relationship at the top of mind in determining the ultimate strategy.

  • Integrity

    Acting with integrity is not only the right thing to do, but also a strategic advantage. We adhere to ethical, legal and moral principles when engaging in conflict.

  • Curiosity

    The nature of almost all conflict is that both sides believe they are in the right. We remain curious about the other side’s position to strengthen our strategies, enhance relationships and ultimately resolve conflicts.

  • Empathy

    To understand each side of a conflict, we all need to put ourselves in the others’ shoes. Being empathic and effectively responding to conflict go hand in hand.

“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

— John F. Kennedy

Meet Susannah, Founder and CEO

Strategist, Lawyer, Consultant, Certified Professional Coach (CPC), COR.E Leadership and Transition Dynamics Specialist (CLDS)

 

Susannah is a highly sought-after conflict strategist, lawyer, and consultant based out of Toronto. As a respected litigator, formidable force, and undefeated trial lawyer, Susannah has negotiated hundreds of disputes and resolved hundreds of lawsuits. She’s also witnessed first hand what happens when conflict is managed badly.

With a love of conflict management and negotiation strategy, combined with her unique talents as an executive and performance coach, Susannah founded Margisons to approach conflict differently: to not only develop a strategy for a way through the conflict, but also empower the client to cut through their own blocks and stop being their own worst enemy. Susannah helps clients step into their own power so they can stand their ground.

Conflicts are rarely single-faceted, and legal and tactical strategy is only half the battle. Susannah approaches each conflict with a “big picture” view. We can find ourselves motivated by emotional interpretations and ill-founded assumptions about the situation and the other people involved. This is an enormous disadvantage which has the capacity to be the downfall of your position. But with emotion built into the foundation of the strategy, it becomes a tool to turn conflict into an advantage.

Susannah unlocks an unknown strength in her clients to face conflicts through a lens of wisdom, fearlessness, and resolve. Her clients call her their secret weapon, confidant, and counsel. Equal parts fierce and kind, Susannah has a unique ability to cut through to the core of an issue quickly, and walks the line between preserving and strengthening relationships, and maintaining principles and boundaries.

To Susannah, conflict management is about more than just winning. It’s about developing ironclad strategies to maximize the possibility of an outcome that is reflective of her clients’ overall long-term goals; to come out ahead and turn conflict into an asset.