The Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution

by Michael Lang

Overview

This book is a commonsense guide to becoming a reflective practitioner, written by a practitioner for practitioners. This second edition is fully revised and updated, incorporating extensive new material emphasizing hands-on tools, worksheets, and guides along with practical advice for those interested in adopting reflective practice individually or in a group setting. It also provides useful resources, step-by-step instructions, and more case studies and commentaries from practitioners.

Every person in a conflict resolution process sees the world differently and acts in a distinctive manner. Yet, by following well-developed practice routines, practitioners often fail to consider the unpredictability of human interactions and overlook behaviors that are inconsistent with their expectations. To respond effectively to surprising and unpredictable events, this book encourages practitioners to adapt their thinking, so they can use their knowledge and skills when situations do not match their assumptions or are inconsistent with their practice routines.

This book also includes guest essays by Ava Abramowitz, Jodie Grant, Tzofnat Peleg-Baker, and Susanne Terry.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538188958
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	08/22/2024
Series:	The ACR Practitioner's Guide Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	276
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Michael Lang is a mediator with more than forty years of experience in the areas of family, workplace, organizational, congregational, and public policy disputes. He is the founding director of the Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution at Antioch University.

Table of Contents

Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Beginning of the Spiral

Chapter 2: Reflective Practice: An Introduction

Chapter 3: The Attributes of a Reflective Practitioner

Chapter 4: Theory: What We Think Shapes What We Do

Chapter 5: Research Improves Practice

Chapter 6: The Methods of Reflective Practice

Chapter 7: Reflective practice Groups

Chapter 8: Reflective Debrief ®

Chapter 9: Reflective Practice in Training and Education

Chapter 10: Spiraling into the Future: Becoming Reflective Practitioners

Appendices

Appendix A Guides for Reflection

Appendix B Sample SRI Questions

Appendix C Basics of Learning Journal

Appendix D Some Guidelines for Reflective Debrief

Appendix E Case Presentation Instructions for Reflective Debrief

Appendix F RPG Basics

Appendix G Reflective Debrief - What Not to Ask or Say/What to Ask or Say

Appendix H Asking Elicitive Questions

Appendix I Guidelines for Your Debriefing

Appendix J Comparison of Roles—Mediator/Debriefer

Appendix K Potential Roles of RPG Leader/Facilitator

Appendix L Guidelines for Starting a Reflective Practice Group

Appendix M Initial Handout-Reflective Practice Group

Contributors

Bibliography

Index

Editorial Reviews

Michael Lang’s continuing commitment to professionalizing the work of conflict management practitioners is evidenced by all he generously shares in this new edition on reflective practice. He includes interesting and unique perspectives of several practitioners in this edition, and their words and experiences add even more value to the increased number of resources included in this edition. This is a must-have for mediators, and other conflict specialists, including those studying and training to be practitioners.

Cinnie Noble

Michael Lang continues to provide evidence for his argument that reflective practice is the key to developing excellence as a conflict resolution professional. This second edition, an important addition, provides collective wisdom about the experience and value of reflective practice. There are also many useful appendices to support those engaging in reflective practice themselves and those facilitating reflective practice groups. This book is truly essential reading for everyone in the conflict resolution field.”

Samantha Hardy

Lang’s much anticipated Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution is an indispensable resource for conflict specialists who prize excellence over experience. It is also an essential guide for those of us supporting new practitioners in thoughtfully navigating the inherent uncertainties of working with conflict. In candid and conversational style, complete with vivid examples and practical exercises, the book itself is a beautifully tangible illustration of the reflective practice mind-set as it applies to our field.

Rochelle Arms Almengor

Michael Lang has been a leading voice in bringing reflective practice methodology to the field of mediation. In this book, he enables the mediator to draw out their learning from their own work. His style engages the reader, his exercises evoke reflection and learning, and his case examples provoke new thinking.

Dr. Delma Sweeney