Pleasures

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

The mediation training session that I attended during January 2015 definitely ranks high up on my list of pleasurable activities. During this event, I was in the company of people who actually cared about helping people constructively manage their differences: outside of this kind of an environment, I'm usually the lone ranger when it comes to stuff like this, so it was great to have this experience and meet other peacemakers.

[Thumpalumpacus]

The mediation training session that I attended during January 2015 definitely ranks high up on my list of pleasurable activities.  During this event, I was in the company of people who actually cared about helping people constructively manage their differences: outside of this kind of an environment, I'm usually the lone ranger when it comes to stuff like this, so it was great to have this experience and meet other peacemakers.

I find the pleasure you clearly get from math to be strange. Not trying to be a jerk, but I guess I'm letting my simpleton show?

Mediation is cool when the parties involved are invested in it, but truth be told, I find it hard to incentivize them who aren't.

[Joods]

The birth of both of my girls. When my oldest was born, I finally understood what it felt like to truly be in love. 

The day that my oldest came out of open heart surgery four hours later than scheduled. She was four months old and although she was grey in color, she was alive and at that point, I knew she would be okay. 

The day my stepsons started calling me mom. Both told me that they wished they could call me mom and I told them that if they felt comfortable with it and if they felt I deserved that honor, that it would be fine with me. 

The day I bought my very first brand new car. It was a 2010 Chevy Malibu, charcoal color on the outside with light grey interior. I still have that car. Up to that point, I had several used cars, but nothing brand new.

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

The mediation training session that I attended during January 2015 definitely ranks high up on my list of pleasurable activities.  During this event, I was in the company of people who actually cared about helping people constructively manage their differences: outside of this kind of an environment, I'm usually the lone ranger when it comes to stuff like this, so it was great to have this experience and meet other peacemakers.

I find the pleasure you clearly get from math to be strange. Not trying to be a jerk, but I guess I'm letting my simpleton show?

Mediation is cool when the parties involved are invested in it, but truth be told, I find it hard to incentivize them who aren't.

 I concur that mediation can only be successful if the parties are willing to participate.  In addition, it is also essential that the mediator has full authority and control over the mediation process (if the mediator's strings are being pulled by some other party who is only interested in satisfying his or her agenda and/or doesn't care about the conflict resolution  process, then IMO, the mediation process will be hindered) and has no vested interest in the outcome and is dedicated to guiding the parties through the conflict resolution/mediation process: IMO, any direction should really come through the usage of questions that our ultimately geared toward helping the parties take ownership of their conflict and its resolution.
 
P.S. Out of curiosity, have you ever been a mediator, Thump?

[Thumpalumpacus]

I find the pleasure you clearly get from math to be strange. Not trying to be a jerk, but I guess I'm letting my simpleton show?

Mediation is cool when the parties involved are invested in it, but truth be told, I find it hard to incentivize them who aren't.

 I concur that mediation can only be successful if the parties are willing to participate.  In addition, it is also essential that the mediator has full authority and control over the mediation process (if the mediator's strings are being pulled by some other party who is only interested in satisfying his or her agenda and/or doesn't care about the conflict resolution  process, then IMO, the mediation process will be hindered) and has no vested interest in the outcome and is dedicated to guiding the parties through the conflict resolution/mediation process: IMO, any direction should really come through the usage of questions that our ultimately geared toward helping the parties take ownership of their conflict and its resolution.
 
P.S. Out of curiosity, have you ever been a mediator, Thump?

No, I haven't. But as a retail manager, that has fallen on my shoulders at times, in order to resolve tension or conflict in the team.

[Kernel Sohcahtoa]

 I concur that mediation can only be successful if the parties are willing to participate.  In addition, it is also essential that the mediator has full authority and control over the mediation process (if the mediator's strings are being pulled by some other party who is only interested in satisfying his or her agenda and/or doesn't care about the conflict resolution  process, then IMO, the mediation process will be hindered) and has no vested interest in the outcome and is dedicated to guiding the parties through the conflict resolution/mediation process: IMO, any direction should really come through the usage of questions that our ultimately geared toward helping the parties take ownership of their conflict and its resolution.
 
P.S. Out of curiosity, have you ever been a mediator, Thump?

No, I haven't. But as a retail manager, that has fallen on my shoulders at times, in order to resolve tension or conflict in the team.

That's pretty cool, Thump. I've not had the opportunity to be a professional or community mediator, but I do know from working in retail that resolving workplace conflicts is no easy task and that you've probably had plenty of people coming to your "mediation table".  It seems that mediation can be a useful and important leadership skill and has many applications, especially in the workplace.

[The Grand Nudger]

I was once an official mediator at the local level for a UN peacekeeping initiative.  It involved riot shields, weighted batons, and body-snatching. 

[Thumpalumpacus]

No, I haven't. But as a retail manager, that has fallen on my shoulders at times, in order to resolve tension or conflict in the team.

That's pretty cool, Thump. I've not had the opportunity to be a professional or community mediator, but I do know from working in retail that resolving workplace conflicts is no easy task and that you've probably had plenty of people coming to your "mediation table".  It seems that mediation can be a useful and important leadership skill and has many applications, especially in the workplace.

Absolutely. Objectivity is key, along with being able to articulate the problematic behaviors without inducing a defensive response. It's crucial to good leadership, in my view.

[The Grand Nudger]

I'll tell you one of my favorites, from back when I wore collared shirts.  Have some enticing diversion run concurrently with the mediation.  It's what donuts were made for.  

Stuff the haters face with creme, hash the conflict out between the adults who can take the time to put off the glazed pastry for five minutes to improve their situation. This was my go-to for schedule disputes between shifts. Everybody gets a paid donut break, and while we're there...we'll handle any issues that people feel are important enough to stay focused for.

"Wa, buddy, we had this conversation on monday. You were there, you ate donuts."

[Thumpalumpacus]

Oh yeah -- a little sugar helps the medicine go down, indeed.