Understanding Conflict - What are we fighting for? Order Form
Dr. Rick Volyes' new book teaches conflict resolution skills that really work, whether it's people to people or workplace based! Read more … |
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Overview of Conflict Order Form
This presentation explores the Image, Causes, Dynamics, Depth, Impact, and Management of conflict between people. Conflict is a request for communication, the evidence of valued issues and relationships. Conflict can be either positive or negative; the difference depends on the skill set used. |
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Mediator’s Opening Statement: Setting the Stage Order Form
The MOS presentation teaches mediators the content of a mediator’s opening statement, along with offering a rationale or explanation for why particular items are included. From initial contact, to the mediator’s opening statement the mediator is setting a stage on which the parties will play out their conflict and there are many subtle things going on which new mediator’s should be sensitive to and aware of between the parties, the mediator, and the process. By effectively setting the stage a mediator can enhance an environment for resolution thinking. |
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Parties’ Opening Statement: Positioned in the Past Order Form
This POS presentation teaches mediators what should be done in order to have an effective and productive opening statement from each party. The past can have a powerful hold on parties in conflict. Respecting the past, while moving beyond blame can be a delicate part of any resolution process. While it is important for parties to hear each other's concerns, allowing an opportunity to vent, within a safe and structured context, the conflict runs the risk of escalation and the parties could become explosive. The skills taught in this lesson, including how to deal with interruptions, the power of active listening, and effective note taking (with examples) will help mediators navigate through the parties' past. |
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Joint Discussion: The Power of a Present Focus Order Form
JD is an important part of the mediation process, which many new mediators often skip. This presentation looks at why JD is so important, and offers techniques for summarizing their opening statements that will stimulate discussion and create areas of focus. We also uncover many of the dynamics going on between the parties, as well as the dynamics often going on within the mediator. This presentation teaches effective note taking and outlines skillful ways to utilize your notes in order to create a present focus for the parties. JD, by applying the skill sets designed to develop the power of a present focus, can become the springboard for the parties out of the past, and prepare them for moving into the future. |
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Caucus: Probing the Future Order Form
Caucus with the complainant and the respondent covers Escorting Parties Out of the Room, Starting the Discussion, Exploring Needs, and Generating Options. These lessons will teach mediators techniques for how to move from a party's concerns into a party's interests. Then, how to create an agenda of each party's interests in order to lay a foundation for the work the parties will do when they reconvene together. Many new mediators never learn how to create interest agenda’s and as a result, when the parties reconvene together, their negotiations appear thrown to the winds. Without an interest agenda, process dynamics often revert back to those we expect and want to see in the Joint Discussion. This creates a feeling of helpless in mediators and a sense of frustration for the parties. The skill set taught in this presentation, coupled with the Need Exploration presentation becomes a powerful combination for improving mediator's ability to empower parties to make informed decisions in their own best interest.
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Reconvening Together: Offering Mutual Gains Order Form
Reconvening together teaches mediators how to handle the transition into party negotiations and how to effectively address their decision to reach a resolution or their decision not to resolve their conflict here today. With concrete examples, using interest agendas, RT trains mediators in the skill set of navigating negotiations. We look at the dynamics often present in the reconvening session, how to handle disagreements within negotiations, if and when to caucus again, as well as what to do in that caucus to redirect and refocus a party. Reconvening together is the heart of the mediation negotiation and, often, can be the most difficult transition for mediators to perform effectively. RT will teach you the skills necessary to set up good party negotiations and move into the document writing stage of the process. |
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Agreement Writing: Empowerment Attained Order Form
The Agreement Writing presentation looks at the Document, the Parties' Role in Writing the Document, and the Mediator's Role in Writing the Document. We look at several examples of agreement writing in order to teach some of the dos and don'ts in good agreement writing. The danger of a poorly written agreement to an agency's program can be extremely troubling. A bad agreement, or a poorly written one, can be worse than no agreement at all. AW teaches mediators how to consider potential loopholes, such as open-ended time-lines, and contingencies, as well as effective techniques for handling "trouble spots" like money and apologies. This presentation will teach mediators to learn and practice the "five question review" (who, what, when, where, and how), which will improve good agreement writing skills and increase program success. |
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Mediation Roleplay Order Form
Mediation Roleplay: This presentation demonstrates the mediation skill sets and goes through each of the mediation process steps. New mediators will be able to see how each of the process steps work together to empower parties to make informed decisions in their own best interest. Going through the entire mediation process (from Mediator’s Opening Statement to Agreement writing), mediators will see an application of the techniques for dealing with interruptions, working through process step transitions, controlling flow and focus with communication skills, and need exploration. This is an excellent tool to show before viewing the individual process step techniques, as well as at the end, to pull it all together into one setting. |
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Troubleshooting Techniques & Principles Order Form
Troubleshooting will help conflict managers and mediators to understand some of the basic techniques useful for a resolution mindset. Troubleshoot covers Challenges offered by the parties, How to deal effectively with interruptions, What can be done when a party attempts to leave the table during a mediation, What to do when a party refuses to talk, Techniques for addressing an imbalance of power present at the table, and What a mediator should do if violence erupts. Each technique is followed up with an easy to remember Principle to guide the mediator when dealing with all types of troubleshooting scenarios. (recommended for mediators) |
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Communication Skills Order Form
This presentation discusses techniques and skills to model good communication with the parties, as well as model good communication for the parties. We identify three characteristics of Conflict Communication, and the role of venting in the resolution and decision making process. This presentation demonstrates highly transferable communication techniques like reflective listening, exploring their understanding, recognizing emotions and feeling, finding things to validate, and identifying the "positive" request. (Recommended for anyone needing to improve communication skills) |
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Need Exploration Order Form
Need Exploration is probably the most critical element of any resolution process, whether it be one-on-one or at a mediation table. Yet it is often the most neglected skill. Here we evaluate how need exploration can move parties from a single solution mindset into generating multiple options, and explain how to move parties from their position(s) into their interest(s). We outline the primary characteristics of a need explorer, as well as the value of a collaborative model need exploration creates. (recommended for anyone needing to improve communication skills) |
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Question Asking Skills Order Form
Often the most valuable tool available to a mediator is the ability to ask questions. However, what type of question is best? Some questions work better in one step in the mediation process than they do in another step. This presentation explains the three types of questions defined in Bloom’s Taxonomy and how each type fits nicely into appropriate steps in the mediation process. This will give both new and experienced mediators a better understanding of the use and the power that good questions can have on moving parties in the direction of resolution. (recommended for anyone needing to improve communication skills) |
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The Lawyer At the Mediation Table Order Form
Often, when the lawyer is present at the mediation table, questions arise about what his role is in the process. This presentation demonstrates how the lawyer can work as an effective advocate for his client and without sabotaging the process.The mediator also gains a better perspective for how an attorney advocate at the table can aid in empowering the parties to make a decision in their own best interest.(recommended for attorneys, parties to a mediation, and the mediator) |
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Ethics of a Professional Order Form
Presented by Attorney Marty Ellin, Director of Legal Services for Conflict Resolution Academy, Ethics of A Professional Mediator focuses on roadblocks faced by mediators in a variety of situations. Marty discusses a variety of situations and the stumbling blocks that might arise for the mediator in areas such as, trying to maintain neutrality, address power imbalances, and deal with personal and cultural responses to conflict. |
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The Lawyer and the Client, Working Together As a Team Order Form
What does a client need to provide his lawyer with to be ready for mediation? What will the lawyer provide for the client? This presentation helps the client understand what is required of him/her as the complainant/respondent in the preparation for a mediation. Participation in this training benefits both the party and the mediator as they learn what needs to be brought to the table once the mediation has been scheduled. (recommended for attorneys, parties to a mediation, and the mediator) |
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Ethics and Legal Considerations Order Form
This presentation addresses the legal concerns involving mediation and the mediator’s responsibilities in preserving the process including confidentiality, federal rules of evidence 408, and potential ethical dilemmas that may arise during mediation. (recommended for attorneys and mediators) |
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