The Making of a Mediator: Developing Artistry in Practice / Edition 1

by Michael D. Lang, Alison Taylor

Overview

The Making of a Mediator goes beyond the basics of mediation process. In this essential resource, expert mediator and teacher Michael Lang outlines his innovative model of artistry in professional practice that results from the understanding of and connection between reflective practice and interactive process. Together with Allison Taylor, they have created a landmark book that offers conflict resolution professionals the theories, principles, practices, and ideas for developing true artistry in mediation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780787949921
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	04/11/2000
Edition description:	1 ED
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.44(w) x 9.23(h) x 0.99(d)

About the Author

MICHAEL D. LANG, editor of Mediation Quarterly and former president of the Academy of Family Mediators, has been a practicing mediator for over twenty years. He is professor and special advisor in the Master of Arts in Conflict Analysis and Management Program at Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia. He teaches mediation and conflict resolution at Woodbury College in Vermont, and at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario. ALISON TAYLOR has been a professional mediator for over twenty years in public and private mediation. She is coauthor of the classic text Mediation: A Comprehensive Guide to Resolving Conflict Without Litigation. Having taught and supervised interns in a court-connected domestic relations program for ten years, Alison now creates innovative uses of mediation in a milieu treatment facility. She teaches in Portland State University's Master's in Conflict Resolution program and in the Department of Communications Studies at Marylhurst University.

Read an Excerpt

Preface

Artistry is not a destination, a place where mediators can settle comfortably, secure in the knowledge that they have attained the highest level of professional competence. Rather, artistry is a journey, a process of exploring and testing the range and application of professional knowledge and skills. At times the journey is uncomfortable, such as when mediators experience the obstacles and challenges to excellence, when they bump up against the limits of their knowledge or skill, or when they fail. Other times the journey is sublime, such as when they experience the exhilaration of matching their skills and knowledge to the needs of disputants, when their work seems effortless, flowing, and intuitive. Above all, artistry is a mind-set-a commitment to curiosity and exploration, to excellence and learning.

How the Book Is Organized

This book addresses both a theoretical framework and a pragmatic approach to practice in order to provide both conceptual understanding and a practical methodology. We are practitioners who are deeply concerned with the applied aspects of theoretical material. We want to understand how theory can and does shape practice. We are also educators and trainers and we have a passionate commitment to exploring and understanding how our methods of practice reflect our beliefs and values. The connection between theory and practice, as tested and analyzed through research, is central to our inquiry into professional excellence, or artistry. This book describes the key conceptual notions that are the guideposts on the path toward excellence in practice, as well as the methods and skills that are the tools needed to make the journey.

Acknowledgments

We want to acknowledge the many contributors and supporters who have helped us on our way from concept to manuscript. Although we are duly proud of the ideas and methods we have developed, we acknowledge that we stand on the shoulders of many scholars, researchers, and practitioners whose work has stimulated, supported, guided, and advanced our work-particularly the seminal work of Donald Schn, whose books have inspired, informed, and at times perplexed us.

February 2000 Michael D. Lang
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Alison Taylor
Hillsboro, Oregon

Table of Contents

Preface.

The Authors.

ARTISTRY.

Developing Artistry.

The Hallmarks of Artistry.

Integrating Artistry into Practice.

REFLECTIVE PRACTICE.

Finding Your Formulation.

Mapping Your Constellation of Theories.

Putting Reflection into Practice.

INTERACTIVE PROCESS.

Combining the Elements of Interactive Process.

Critical Moments in Interaction.

Finding and Keeping the Flow.

Conclusion: Expanding Artistry in Our Professional Life.

References.

Additional Resources.

Index.

What People are Saying About This

Robert D. Benjamin

The Making of a Mediator has been worth waiting for. This work provides a structure and methodology for those committed to the artful practice of mediation, or for that matter, the pursuit of any profession. (Robert D. Benjamin, former president, Academy of Family Mediators, Mediation and Conflict Mediation Services)

Juliana Birkhoff

An engaging and easy-to-use manual for all peacemakers and conflict resolvers to further their own and others' practices. I encourage every practitioner and trainer to incorporate these tools into their practices. (Juliana Birkhoff, director, Center for Research and Education, RESOLVE)

Editorial Reviews

The Making of a Mediator has been worth waiting for. This work provides a structure and methodology for those committed to the artful practice of mediation, or for that matter, the pursuit of any profession.

Robert D. Benjamin

Michael Lang and Alison Taylor lead us on a journey inside the mediator's head, charting territory and options previously undiscovered by most mediators. They offer assistance to all mediators to take their practice and mediation itself to the next level. Bravo!

James C. Melamed

In this book, practicing mediators will learn how to unleash talents they didn't know they had and how to keep replicating their successes for years to come.

Sylvia McMechan

An engaging and easy-to-use manual for all peacemakers and conflict resolvers to further their own and others' practices. I encourage every practitioner and trainer to incorporate these tools into their practices.

Juliana Birkhoff

Lang (conflict analysis and management, Royal Roads University) outlines his four-stage model of artistry in professional practice and interactive process. This guide presents the theories, principles, practices, and ideas informing the model, as well as guidelines for the application of mediation strategies and techniques. The conceptual framework encourages readers to form and test their own hypotheses. Taylor teaches conflict resolution at Portland State University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"The Making of a Mediator has been worth waiting for. This workprovides a structure and methodology for those committed to theartful practice of mediation, or for that matter, the pursuit ofany profession." (Robert D. Benjamin, M.S.W., J.D., Mediation andConflict Management Services)

"Michael Lang and Alison Taylor lead us on a journey inside themediator's head, charting territory and options previouslyundiscovered by most mediators. They offer assistance to allmediators to take their practice and mediation itself to the nextlevel. Bravo!" (James C. Melamed, J.D., cofounder, MediationInformation and Resource Center)

"In this book, practicing mediators will learn how to unleashtalents they didn't know they had and how to keep replicating theirsuccesses for years to come." (Sylvia McMechan, professor, Masterof Arts Program in Conflict Analysis and Management at Royal RoadsUniversity; former executive director, The Network)

"An engaging and easy-to-use manual for all peacemakers andconflict resolvers to further their own and others' practices. Iencourage every practitioner and trainer to incorporate these toolsinto their practices." (Juliana Birkhoff, director, Center forResearch and Education, RESOLVE)

From the Publisher