Causes of Conflict, Cognitive Bias, Communication, Cooperation, Decision making, Dialogue, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, Mindset, Negotiation, Reflective Practice, Scotland, Transformation

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“Beat your ploughshares into swords, and your pruning-hooks into spears.” Surely some mistake, I thought; shouldn’t it be the other way round? Swords into ploughshares and spears into pruning-hooks? It was during Evensong at the magnificent Liverpool Cathedral a few weeks ago that this reading from the Old Testament Book of the prophet Joel caught…

Book Review, Conflict, Dispute Resolution, Economics, Future of mediation, Game Theory, History of mediation, International Mediation, Leadership, Mediation and Society, Mediation Practice, mediation traditions, peace negotiations, Role of Mediator, Uncategorized, Understanding mediation

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The Magic in Mediation This is a longer blog post than is normal but I will not be alone in describing Ken Cloke as one of the most influential figures in my life, both professionally and personally. Ken’s wisdom and humanity, expressed so well in his many books and seminars, have been hugely important to…

Argument, Causes of Conflict, Cooperation, Decision making, Developing the Field, Dialogue, Future of mediation, Language, Mediation Practice, Philosophy, Reflective Practice, Scotland, The role of the mediator, Uncategorized

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The former British politician (and leadership contender when the Conservative Party was choosing Boris Johnson), Rory Stewart, is making a mark as an even more independent thinker than he was in the British Parliament. Recently, he hosted a three-part series on BBC Radio 4 entitled A Long History of Argument. It is worth listening to…

Future of mediation, Mediation Practice, Policy, Public Policy, Scotland

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Back in 2020, just before the world changed, I wrote a blog post on this site suggesting the establishment of the World Mediators’ Alliance on Climate Change. My argument was that mediation offers a much more sustainable way to resolve disputes than many other processes. We could also do a lot to reduce our carbon…

Bias, caucus, Caucus, Cognitive Bias, Commercial Mediation, Communication, Confidentiality, conlfict coaching, Decision making, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Flexibility, Intuition, lawyers in mediation, mediation models, Mediation Outcomes, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mediation Skills, Mediation Training, Negotiation, Practical Challenges for Mediators, Reflective Practice, Scotland, Stages of mediation, The role of the mediator

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It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog just about mediation practice. Other things always seem more important! However, as I was mediating this week, a thought occurred to me about a rather imperceptible but very real change in my practice as a mediator, which I develop here, albeit in a simplified way….

Conflict, conlfict coaching, crisis negotiatons, Go to the balcony, International Mediation, Mediation Practice, Negotiation, peace negotiations, Reality-Testing, Reflective Practice, Scotland, Ukraine

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I have been musing about what a mediator might say to President Putin given the opportunity. That led me to compose a letter a few weeks ago, with which I have since tinkered. This is merely a thought experiment. The letter goes something like this: “Dear President Putin I write as a mediator, a peacemaker….

Causes of Conflict, Communication, crisis negotiatons, Dialogue, International Mediation, peace negotiations, Scotland, Ukraine, Uncategorized

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The escalating situation in Ukraine brings challenges to those of us committed to mediation and peace-making. Is there a time when what we stand for does not work and cannot be pursued? When dialogue, even in the most threatening of situations, is not appropriate? I don’t pretend to have the answers but I have been…

Appointment of Mediators, Cooperation, cross-border mediation, Decision making, Developing the Field, Dispute Resolution, Future of mediation, Governments/Public Sector, International Conciliation, International Mediation, Negotiation, peace negotiations, Promoting Mediation, Public Policy, Scotland, Uncategorized

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Effective inter-governmental relations among the constituent parts of the United Kingdom are essential in an era of increased devolution of powers, post-Brexit allocation of responsibility and contested narratives about the future of the (uncodified) UK constitution. Background One of the rather depressing aspects of the constitutional impasse in the UK is that inter-governmental relations (IGR)…

Mediation Practice, Mindset, Personal Development, Reflective Practice, Scotland, Uncategorized

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At this time of year, it is good to reflect, to look back, and also to look forward. This is not always easy as we sense the clutter and complexity of life crowding in on us. I have had the uneasy experience in the past few weeks of clearing out the Core office, our administrative…

Art, Communication, conlfict coaching, Dialogue, Framing, Language, Leadership, Mediation Practice, mediation process, Mentoring, Personal Development, Scotland, Skills, Stories, The role of the mediator, Uncategorized

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Every now and again something happens to cause me to pause and think – or re-think. Recently, I had that experience at a small ruined castle in the heart of Scotland, near a lovely country town called Edzell. Edzell Castle, visited by, among others, Mary Queen of Scots and her son, King James VI of…