Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.
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Mediators Playing the Devil’s Advocate
Mediators Playing the Devil ’s Advocate Devil’s Advocate is one of the roles of a mediator. A good mediator such as myself, does not forfeit his personal opinions simply because he serves as a neutral facilitator. These opinions and preconceptions can help inform certain beliefs. However, a strong mediator knows how to view a case…
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FAQ: Are Retired Judges Better Mediators?
FAQ: Are Retired Judges Better Mediators? It is assumed that a retired judge makes a better mediator than someone that has not been a judge. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Rendering judgment requires an entirely different skill set than helping the parties resolve their case through mediation. The day to day activities of…
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Listening is the best way to resolve conflicts.
The better the information you have, the greater your chances of finding a workable solution. Listen carefully to what others are saying, not judging until you hear everyone’s story. Be aware of tone of voice, body language, and other clues. Understand what each person is expressing – what he wants and what he is willing…
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Podcast – Final question: Mediation is conflict at its best.
Podcast – Final question: Mediation is conflict at its best. What do you mean when you say: Mediation is conflict at its best? This was the final question Chris Knutson, PE asked in our podcast from Stuttgart, Germany. The podcast was a wide ranging discussion of how civil engineers could use mediation to resolve disputes…
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Podcast – Does Mediation solve Civil Engineering and Construction disputes?
Podcast – Does Mediation solve Civil Engineering and Construction disputes? Chris Knutson, P.E. of the Engineering Career Coach questioned me: Does Mediation solve civil engineering and construction disputes? While he was in Stuttgart, Germany and I in California we tackled that question and more. With over 750,000 downloads under their belt, I was honored to…
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What am I getting for my money when I hire a mediator?
What am I actually getting for my money when I hire a mediator? When you hire me as your mediator, you are buying the opportunity, through a neutral third party, to evaluate with someone who is an objective “sounding board,” your real needs (personal, economic, spiritual, etc.) and to evaluate which dispute resolution process will…
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Teaching youth how to resolve conflicts.
Teaching youth how to resolve conflicts. I’m privileged to be an adult staff member for a National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT) course. It is a very satisfying experience and a lot of fun. One key topic on the course is how to resolve conflicts as a leader. This blog is adapted from this course. Leading…
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Podcast – How do engineers prepare for mediation?
Podcast – How do engineers prepare for mediation? How does an civil engineer prepare for mediation? With over 750,000 downloads of the Engineering Career Coach’s podcast, I was honored to be interviewed regarding the use of mediation in civil engineering and construction disputes by Chris Knutson, P.E. The link to the podcast: Web Down Load…
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I’m tired of being called a Mediation Neutral.
I’m tired of being called a Mediation Neutral. Most Mediators describe themselves as being a neutral. It doesn’t help that the courts and clients expect us to be neutral and describes us as such. But mediators in Europe have difficulty with the description. In the German Language the term for neutral most closely translates back…
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