The latest Cafe Mediate podcast discusses persistent myths in the mediation world. We focused our attention on three questions: 1. What persistent myths most vex us and why? 2. What do those myths, individually or collectively, do to public understanding of our work? 3. What should mediators and other ADR professionals do when they hear these myths perpetuated? You can also find the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Dealing with isolation as a solo practitioner
11 June 2010
The solo ADR practice can be at once a highly social line of work due to interactions with clients, and a lonely existence without the day-to-day affiliations of a typical workplace. The confidentiality required of ADR professionals can exacerbate the isolation. In this episode we discuss our own experiences with isolation and loss of affiliation in their solo practices, what surprised us, how we dealt with it, and what we learned about ourselves in the process. You can also find the … [Read more...]
Keeping cool in chaos: How mediators recover their balance
21 May 2010
The act of mediating, in some ways, is the act of stepping into chaos. Bumps in the road during mediation are not the exception, but the norm. When things get really difficult, how do mediators keep their cool and get their balance back so they can continue to serve their parties well? In this podcast episode we discuss the kinds of situations that most challenge our own calm, how we handle them, and what we've learned from such moments. We share ideas to help mediators regain their mojo after … [Read more...]
Mediator certification, part 2
16 April 2010
In part 1 of this two-part podcast on mediator certification, we explored the difference between mediator certification, licensure and rostering, what's happening in private certification, and what steps associations are taking toward certification. In this episode, part 2, we continue our exploration of certification with discussion about these questions and more: Should certification be benchmarked to the lowest common denominator of qualifications, a high standard that is difficult to … [Read more...]
Mediator certification, part 1
25 March 2010
What's the difference between mediator certification, licensure and rostering? What's happening out there with certification? Is mediator certification a good idea or a bad one -- and is that question sending us down an unhelpful path? When is private certification a good choice and when should mediation training consumers be wary? And are you a truly certified mediator or a "certificated" one? In this podcast episode we're joined by master mediator Susanne Terry, conflict resolution professor … [Read more...]
After how much training can you call yourself a mediator?
25 February 2010
How much mediation training do you need to hang out a shingle and call yourself a mediator? What constitutes good mediation training? In the latest CafeMediate podcast we share our answers to these questions and more! You can also find the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
What makes a great mediator?
29 January 2010
For our second CafeMediate podcast we reflected on the skills, frame of mind and the ways of being that excellent mediators bring to the table. Referenced in the podcast is the book Bringing Peace Into the Room: How the Personal Qualities of the Mediator Impact the Process of Conflict Resolution (Amazon affiliate link), edited by Daniel Bowling and David Hoffman. You can also find the podcast on iTunes. Enjoy! … [Read more...]
Value-based fees in ADR: new CafeMediate podcast
11 December 2009
There's nothing like a good cuppa joe, friends and meaningful chat to re-charge and re-energize. Even when those friends are on other continents. In this instance, the friends are fellow New Englander Diane Levin of The Mediation Channel and London-based mediator Amanda of The Mediation Times. We brought our own coffee and the chat was via Skype. And it's the start of something new: Cafe Mediate. Cafe Mediate was born out of our interest in chewing over with trusted colleagues some of the … [Read more...]
Conflict zen habit 2: Break the bickering habit
1 February 2009
In the 7 Habits of Conflict Zen®, I described conflict zen as "the centered, balanced, intentional response to conflict that most people want. It’s the kind of response the minimizes relational debris, makes you feel good about how you handled it, and exponentially increases creativity for individuals and groups." Breaking the bickering habit is one of the ways to move closer to conflict zen in your home and work relationships. And because it takes two to bicker, the bait provided by the … [Read more...]
