The role of the mediator

Developing the Field, Intuition, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Online Mediation, Practical Challenges for Mediators, The role of the mediator, Tips, Uncategorized

(University of Strathclyde)/ /10 Comments
The importance of gaze

‘Because you’re distant, forgive me for being a little bit bossy’ (Paddy O’Connell, BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House) After plying their trade for a while mediators (and broadcasters) develop a persona, not so much bolted on as inhabited. Once in ‘the chair,’ voice, posture and gestures all coalesce to support their purpose and, with minimal…

Litigation, Mediation and Society, Mediation Outcomes, mediation traditions, Promoting Mediation, Reflective Practice, Scotland, Success in mediation, The role of the mediator, Uncategorized

(Core Solutions Group)/ /1 Comment

One of the positive aspects of the enforced changes brought about by lockdown is that it enables – or compels – us to try new things. So far, I’ve learned how to create and have issued 13 podcasts, the idea being to spread ideas as widely as possible at this crucial time. After much procrastination,…

Confidentiality, Conventional wisdom, Creativity, Experience, Flexibility, Hong Kong, mediation as a career, Mediation Practice, Role of Mediator, Skills

(Kwok, Ng & Chan, Solicitors & Notaries)/ /1 Comment

Those who have practised theatre may have heard of Constantin Stanislavski’s “An Actor Prepares” – a book on acting published in 1936. The book is popular in Hong Kong not only among those in the performing art but also fans of the Asia famous Hong Kong comedian,  Stephen Chow, who posed to be reading the…

COVID-19, Future of mediation, Mediation and Society, Policy, Scotland, The role of the mediator, Uncategorized

(Core Solutions Group)/ /3 Comments

I was privileged recently to give opening remarks at a meeting of mediators in the International Academy of Mediators. The remarks were a reflection on the times we as mediators are living in. I share an adapted version here. “There is no us and them, only us”. These words were uttered here in Edinburgh in…

Bias, Chinese Literature, Cognitive Bias, Conflict, Mediator's Image, Neuroscience, Promoting Mediation, The role of the mediator

(Kwok, Ng & Chan, Solicitors & Notaries)/ /2 Comments

This is a tale from an ancient piece of Chinese literature – Lu’s Commentaries of History – – compiled in 239 B.C. by Lu Buwei, the Prime Minister of the state of Qin.- “There was once a villager who had lost his hatchet. Thinking it was stolen by his neighbour’s son, Wang, he began observing…

China, COVID-19, Europe, Future of mediation, Leadership, Mediation and Society, Neuroscience, Perception, The role of the mediator

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Early in the morning, I got a call from a lawyer representing one of the parties in cross border mediation. “Would you consider changing the venue for our meeting?”, he asked. Usually not a surprising demand. This time an expected one. We were about to meet in Milan, Italy which at the time being had…

Dialogue, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Technology, The role of the mediator

(ADR Center Romania)/ /10 Comments

I hope you are fine. Obviously, I write this blog at home, where I am with my family. We are all healthy, but we try to adapt to this situation, to stay isolated to protect ourselves and those around us. As if the Earth stopped spinning, everyone stopped doing everything and most of all, it…

Developing the Field, Economics, Efficiency, Environmental Mediation, Future of mediation, Leadership, Mediation and Society, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Negotiation, Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), Online Mediation, Promoting Mediation, Scotland, The role of the mediator, Understanding mediation

(Core Solutions Group)/ /10 Comments

“The ground is so wet; it wasn’t like this in the past. We can’t get started on this year’s soil preparation.” In a recent mediation involving farmers, this was the response to my early inquiry about how things were going, generally. These days, I find that the topic of climate change and its effects arises,…

Experience, Flexibility, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Neutrality, Philosophy, Skills, The role of the mediator, Tips, Understanding mediation

(Kwok, Ng & Chan, Solicitors & Notaries)/ /Leave a comment

I was first introduced to Kluwer Mediation Blog by Professor Joel Lee of the National University of Singapore when he shared “A Mediator’s Prayer” in his July 2014 blog entry. Joel is no stranger here. He is not only a prominent mediator but also a Chinese martial arts master. Joel practises and teaches Wing Chun –…

Mediation and Society, Mediation Practice, Philosophy, Scotland, The role of the mediator, Uncategorized

(Core Solutions Group)/ /1 Comment

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the festive season is receiving and reading books that one might not have come across otherwise. This year, I have been enjoying two quite contrasting works of literature. The first is a Manual for Spectrum Agents (Haynes Publishing) providing “detailed information about the Spectrum organisation”, based on the…