Reflective Practice For Mediators

Reflective Practice

Being a reflective practitioner is critical to being an effective mediator, ombuds, conflict coach, and any other conflict resolution role. The preceding statement is nothing new- I have said it many times on this blog as well as many others having said it in many other outlets.

A reflective practice can, and should be multi-faceted. Reflecting alone (perhaps by writing in a journal or taking time to review a recently concluded session) is beneficial but I do not think it should be the sole method of reflection. Just as we engage others during our job, engagement should also be a staple to our reflective practice.

I have been gravitating more towards academic research recently (I am currently striving towards a PhD with Griffith University Law School) and as part of my reflective practice, I took time away from my writing on nonverbal communication and mediation to do a brief survey on... well nonverbal communication and mediation!

I think the brief survey has already given me some valuable quantitative data which can (or should!) be further elaborated with qualitative means (that's what my PhD will attempt to do). What this information has allowed me to do is to reflect on various nonverbal elements which has a direct role in me being an effective, or in-effective, mediator. The second step then is after that personal reflection is to then see how it compares to others.

The comparison is not from the mindset of someone being "right" or "wrong" but rather seeing other peoples opinions and thoughts. Here's some quick tidbits:

21 mediators
65% were certified mediators
35% not certified

Mediator's Introduction (n=20)
60% believe it is very important
40% believe it is important

Believe Nonverbal Communication is important for mediators (n=21)
65% very important
35% important

Appearance
68% think a mediator (male) wearing a suit is not appropriate for community mediation (n=19)
100% think a mediator (male) wearing a suit is appropriate for divorce mediation (n=20)

I'll save my interpretations and opinions for another post. I'd much rather hear/read what everyone else has to say.

Enjoy.

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Comment by Nicole Bohe on July 21, 2011 at 8:44am: What was the gender breakdown in the mediators you surveyed? I noted that the suit data states that "males" should or should not wear a suit. Did you not ask about whether female mediators should wear suits? If not, why not?

Comment by Jeff Thompson on July 25, 2011 at 7:26pm: Nicole,

Good questions-

The percentage breakdown 40% men- 60% women.

The suit data is limited to men as the drawings I had were only of men. It was a limited research study!

Next time I will look to include women :)