Mediator Communication Competencies: Problem Solving and (Paperback)

by Dr. William D. Kimsey; Dr. Bruce C. McKinney; Dr. Dorothy J. Della Noce; Sallye S. Trobaugh (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review
NIACR (National Institute for Advanced Conflict Resolution) Newsletter Pennsylvania edition May 2006 www.niacr.org

Mediator Communication Competencies: Problem Solving and Transformative Practices William D. Kimsey, Bruce C. McKinney, Dorothy J. Della Noce, Sallye S. Trobaugh

This textbook, now in its fifth edition, fills the need for a book that examines the mediation process from beginning to end. Although written so that it can be used in workshops, trainings, and college courses, it also is of value to professional mediators who are seeking an in depth understanding of problem solving and transformative approaches to mediating. In short, this work is a very useful reference for beginners as well as experienced mediators.

 

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Mediation On-Line

A Newsletter from ADR Resources
http://adrr.com/adr9/073.htm
Volume 8, #5 (Year's End 2005)
Reviewed by Stephen Marsh

Mediator Communication Competencies:  Problem Solving and Transformative Practices (5th Edition)
William D. Kimsey, Bruce C. McKinney, Dorthy J. Della Noce, Sallye S. Trobaugh
Pearson Custom Publishing (Boston Massachusetts, 2005)

This is a cleanly laid out textbook.  With 13 chapters it would fit exactly into a sixteen week semester, once time for roleplays, mid-terms/finals and simulations is factored in.

Each chapter begins with the bullet points for the skills and knowledge a student should gain from the chapter.  Each chapter ends with not only a summary, but with a collection of relevant references. The text itself leads one from an introduction to the subject matter, through ADR to the transformative model.

If you are teaching potential H.R. students, civilians working on government contracts, or anyone involved in the Post Office model, this text will fit your exact needs.  It shows the polish and refinement one would expect from a fifth edition, and has been ruthlessly edited for clarity and usefulness.  Not a page is wasted.

Use this book in connection with http://www.mediate.com/articles/cohen7.cfm if you have any interest in federal sector mediation.

Product Description
Mediation has become in recent years a recognized and valued approach to conflict resolution in innumerable contexts in the United States and abroad. Family, business, school, and even international conflicts are just a few examples of arenas in which mediation produces successful and satisfying outcomes for all involved. At any level of conflict, the success of the mediation process banks on the communication competency of the mediator. Mediator communication competency depends on the mediator’s grasp of both theory and practice. Mediator Communication Competencies: Problem Solving and Transformative Practices fills the need for a book that examines the mediation process from beginning to end. This is the only text on the market that uses theory and practice to explain both problem solving and transformative approaches to mediating. Educators and trainers will appreciate the depth of coverage of theory and practice. What does success look like in problem solving mediation versus transformative mediation? What are the best mediator techniques? How can a mediator be involved in the parties’ dispute but not become a part of the conflict? What standards should be set for mediator professional conduct and effectiveness? Mediator Communication Competencies examines these issues and many more, making it a useful reference for beginners as well as experienced mediators. Mediation professionals will find this text most helpful with specific competencies that assist mediators in improving their skills as third-party neutrals. Emphasis on communication competencies like listening, verbal and nonverbal language, creativity, process, empowerment, recognition, culture, and more will enhance mediator skills in a variety of contexts. The text also examines mediation skills important for engaging parties with differing cultural or ethnic backgrounds; it explores how individuals communicate across cultural boundaries and what improves intercultural mediation skills. This text, which is in its fifth edition, fits: alternative dispute resolution, conflict resolution, general mediation, divorce and family mediation, school mediation, faith-based mediation, court mediation, community mediation, business negotiation and mediation, and more. It is uniquely written so that it can be used in workshops, trainings, and college courses.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Custom Publishing; 5 edition (August 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0536948550
• ISBN-13: 978-0536948557
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,228,140 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars View from the table, April 7, 2006

By	Richard Morley Barron (Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a professional mediator I approached this book somewhat critically as I understood it to basicly be an accademic text. Nevertheless, I found it to be a helpful, if somewhat basic, review of the process of mediation and of those skills typically used by mediators. At 150 pages it is a fast review for practicing mediators and a good over-view for students. Most helpful, in my judgment, are the chapters on negotiation, language, creativity and power. Greater use of examples would have increased both readability and retention of concepts. Overall it belongs in a mediator's library.
Richard Morley Barron