The role of the mediator

Making the ‘right’ decision can be one of the hardest parts of the mediation process. Once understanding of has been enhanced and options thoroughly explored – how best to choose a way forward? One…

Daniel Kahneman, the psychologist who won the Nobel prize for economics, died in March. He described himself as the grandfather of behavioural economics, which provides so many insights into how…

The former British politician (and leadership contender when the Conservative Party was choosing Boris Johnson), Rory Stewart, is making a mark as an even more independent thinker than he was in the…

It’s been a long time since I wrote a blog just about mediation practice. Other things always seem more important! However, as I was mediating this week, a thought occurred to me about a rather…

"The world is made, not found." (W Barnet Pearce) I had been a mediator for about 10 years before I heard parties' initial words described as their "opening statement." This may surprise some…

In the 1930’s anthropologist Gregory Bateson developed the concept of Schismogenesis - the creation of division. He defined this as ‘a process of differentiation in the norms of individual behaviour…

  On the first day of this year the international mediation community lost a wonderful friend and colleague. The memorial page established by his family shows just how wide and deep the affection…

John Sturrock and I recently had the pleasure of contributing a session on game theory and mediation to a workshop on global conflict and dispute resolution hosted by the Delhi Metropolitan Education…

Every now and again something happens to cause me to pause and think - or re-think. Recently, I had that experience at a small ruined castle in the heart of Scotland, near a lovely country town…