Comments on: The relationship between mediation marketing and professional credibility http://makingmediationyourdayjob.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/ Online marketing, career and business guide for ADR professionals and those who want to be Fri, 12 Mar 2010 03:19:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Dr. Tammy Lenski http://makingmediationyourdayjob.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-292 Dr. Tammy Lenski Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:08:24 +0000 http://MediatorTech.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/#comment-292 Colm, I found myself nodding as I read your last comment because I have had a similar change in my thinking. I came in, as you did, fully believing that if I have enough good process knowledge and skill, I don't need content skill. I still generally believe that, <em>and</em> I've come to understand that when I'm familiar with the narrower world of my clients (e.g., higher education or probate court), they seem more inclined to trust me at the front end...I speak their language. And I couldn't agree more with your comment that, except in particular cases, parties don't really care what kind of mediator we label ourselves to be...they care about the results. I appreciate you having this brief online conversation with me, Colm! Colm,

I found myself nodding as I read your last comment because I have had a similar change in my thinking. I came in, as you did, fully believing that if I have enough good process knowledge and skill, I don’t need content skill. I still generally believe that, and I’ve come to understand that when I’m familiar with the narrower world of my clients (e.g., higher education or probate court), they seem more inclined to trust me at the front end…I speak their language.

And I couldn’t agree more with your comment that, except in particular cases, parties don’t really care what kind of mediator we label ourselves to be…they care about the results.

I appreciate you having this brief online conversation with me, Colm!

]]> By: Colm Brannigan http://makingmediationyourdayjob.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-293 Colm Brannigan Wed, 19 Sep 2007 17:44:44 +0000 http://MediatorTech.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/#comment-293 My initial approach was that "mediation" is "mediation," but after having a "general" practice for a while it became obvious to me that I was not really listening to what my clients wanted. I came in as the process expert all gung-ho with the fervour of beginning professionals (especially mediators as we seem to often look at what we do as a "calling" as much as a profession). But most clients and their counsel wanted resolution through settlement or narrowing the issues. They did not, except in particular cases, care whether I was a facilitative mediator or transformative mediator as long as I got results. I discovered it is much easier to talk to clients and their lawyers if you have substantive knowledge the topic of the dispute. All dispute resolution occurs along a continium and having substantive knowledge helps the mediator with work out where he or she should be in addressing the resolution needs of the particular client in the particular dispute. This may not sit well with pure conflict resolvers but it is reality especially in the legal field. Colm My initial approach was that “mediation” is “mediation,” but after having a “general” practice for a while it became obvious to me that I was not really listening to what my clients wanted.

I came in as the process expert all gung-ho with the fervour of beginning professionals (especially mediators as we seem to often look at what we do as a “calling” as much as a profession). But most clients and their counsel wanted resolution through settlement or narrowing the issues. They did not, except in particular cases, care whether I was a facilitative mediator or transformative mediator as long as I got results.

I discovered it is much easier to talk to clients and their lawyers if you have substantive knowledge the topic of the dispute.

All dispute resolution occurs along a continium and having substantive knowledge helps the mediator with work out where he or she should be in addressing the resolution needs of the particular client in the particular dispute. This may not sit well with pure conflict resolvers but it is reality especially in the legal field.

Colm

]]> By: Dr. Tammy Lenski http://makingmediationyourdayjob.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-295 Dr. Tammy Lenski Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:04:31 +0000 http://MediatorTech.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/#comment-295 You bet, Colm. There's a chapter on just that topic (target market and market niche) in my forthcoming book. If you have a moment, I'd love you to comment here on what lead you to conclude it wasn't a good idea to dip toes into unknown waters! Best, Tammy You bet, Colm. There’s a chapter on just that topic (target market and market niche) in my forthcoming book.

If you have a moment, I’d love you to comment here on what lead you to conclude it wasn’t a good idea to dip toes into unknown waters!

Best,
Tammy

]]> By: Colm Brannigan http://makingmediationyourdayjob.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/comment-page-1/#comment-294 Colm Brannigan Mon, 10 Sep 2007 15:58:47 +0000 http://MediatorTech.com/the-relationship-between-mediation-marketing-and-professional-credibility/#comment-294 Interesting and valuable post. When I first started mediating a while ago, I belonged to the "process skill" rather than "substantive knowledge" camp. But over the years I have found that dipping your toe into unknown waters is not a good idea. Far better to find you niche and not try to be "all things to all people" Colm Interesting and valuable post.

When I first started mediating a while ago, I belonged to the “process skill” rather than “substantive knowledge” camp.

But over the years I have found that dipping your toe into unknown waters is not a good idea.

Far better to find you niche and not try to be “all things to all people”

Colm

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