The Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution

by Michael Lang, Michael D. Lang

Overview

This book is a commonsense guide to becoming a reflective practitioner, written by a practitioner for practitioners. Relying on actual practice situations, stories, and self-guided exercises, it responds to the questions: Why should professionals care about reflective practice? How do its principles and methods increase competence? What characteristics distinguish reflective 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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781538116623
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/08/2019
Series:	The ACR Practitioner's Guide Series , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	248
Product dimensions:	6.89(w) x 10.06(h) x 0.65(d)

About the Author

Michael Lang is a mediator with more than 30 years' experience in the areas of family, workplace, organizational, congregational and public policy disputes. Michael is the founding Director of the Master of Arts Program in Conflict Resolution at Antioch University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter One: Reflective Practice – An Introduction

Chapter Two: The 9 Attributes of a Reflective Practitioner

Chapter Three: Theory—What We Think Shapes What We Do

Chapter Four: How Research Improves Practice

Chapter Five: The Methods of Reflective Practice

Chapter Six: Reflective Debrief

Chapter Seven: Becoming Reflective Practitioners — Next Steps

Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

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

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

The Guide reminds us there is no one size fits all, no single path, no one model or style of practice that is ideal for all practitioners. With over thirty years of experience as educator, practitioner, researcher, and author, Lang’s writing flows with clarity, confidence, conviction, and keen insights about how anyone might achieve excellence. By becoming a reflective practitioner, the reader will learn why reflection before and during mediation is so important.

David A. Hubbard

Michael Lang’s reflective practice guide is a gift to current and future practitioners, from students to novices to the most experienced experts. Rather than a prescription for a specific practice model, it is a delightful and accessible reference, full of examples from actual cases as well as exercises designed to help people continuously become more effective throughout their careers.

John Lande

A Guide to Reflective Practice in Conflict Resolution is an outstanding contribution to the conflict management field. With Michaels’ creative insights, practical case examples, and innovative techniques, he inspires practitioners to examine and understand what guides the strategic and tactical choices we make in our work. This book is a must-read for practitioners who strive to bring their personal best to their work and for educators and trainers who strive to inspire learners to do so.

Cinnie Noble

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.

Delma Sweeney

Grab this wise and wonderful book plus five mediator friends and form your own reflective practitioner group. Lang's book asks just the right questions to start you on your journey. You'll never regret it.

Ava J. Abramowitz

The book includes chapters on theory, research, reflective debrief, reflective practice intraining and education, and reflective practice groups as well as 13 very practical appendices. It is full of anecdotes, illustrations of reflective practice conversations, and exercises for readers. It includes a particularly valuable chapter on reflective practice groups. These are important because many people don’t have the discipline for self-reflection but may blossom in reflective practice groups. It also includes a chapter on reflective practice in training and education to help practitioners develop good reflective habits from the outset of their careers. The book can be helpful for faculty. Courses often include debriefing of simulated and actual practice experiences. Faculty may learn improved techniques for debriefing and encourage students to regularly use reflective techniques when they are in practice.

Indisputably

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