Conflict Resolution

Navigating the Grey Zones: A Practical Guide to Ethical Decision-Making for Mediators

The Conflict Management Academy has been running “The Mediator’s Dilemma Series” events this year, in which mediators explore a challenging hypothetical and discuss how they would deal with the dilemmas at various stages of the process. These events have been well attended and the discussions enlightening (and sometimes heated!) but what struck me after having […]

Navigating the Grey Zones: A Practical Guide to Ethical Decision-Making for Mediators Read More »

Mediating Underwater: Rethinking Mediation to Make It Inclusive for Neurodivergent Clients.

This blog post is based on a presentation I gave at the Australian Dispute Centre conference in Sydney in May this year. Navigating a Sea of Conflict Put your hand up if: You can swim. You’ve ever been caught in a rip. You’ve ever been scuba diving. You can navigate underwater. You’ve ever been night

Mediating Underwater: Rethinking Mediation to Make It Inclusive for Neurodivergent Clients. Read More »

Caught in the Gossip Trap: When Social Pressure Replaces Constructive Feedback in the Workplace

“One obvious sign you’re living in a gossip trap is when the primary mode of dispute resolution becomes social pressure.” —Erik Hoel, The Gossip Trap I came across this quote after the first session of our Workplace Conflict Practice Group, where we explored the dynamics of workplace conflict—what fuels it, what silences it, and why

Caught in the Gossip Trap: When Social Pressure Replaces Constructive Feedback in the Workplace Read More »

Reflecting with Purpose: How Conflict Practitioners Can Build a Sustainable Reflective Practice

We often talk about the importance of reflective practice in conflict work—but sometimes we are not clear about why it is so beneficial, what it actually looks like in action, and why is it sometimes so hard to do? In recent Conflict Leadership Program sessions, a range of experienced and emerging practitioners gathered to share

Reflecting with Purpose: How Conflict Practitioners Can Build a Sustainable Reflective Practice Read More »

Are Mediators Ever Liable? Rethinking Accountability in Our Practice

By Dr Samantha Hardy Inspired by Jennifer L. Schulz (2023). Mediator Liability 23 Years Later: The “Three C’s” of Case Law, Codes, & Custom. Ottawa Law Review / Revue de droit d’Ottawa, 55(1):151–186. Available at: https://doi.org/10.7202/1112508ar A Quiet Assumption For many of us working in the mediation field, there’s a quiet assumption we rarely question:

Are Mediators Ever Liable? Rethinking Accountability in Our Practice Read More »

Why Good Conflict Management Is Essential for Psychosocial Safety

Imagine walking into a workplace where people feel anxious, silenced, or wary of one another. Collaboration slows. Creativity wanes. Absenteeism creeps up. Resignations start to pile in. What you’re witnessing isn’t just poor culture—it’s a breach of psychosocial safety. For leaders navigating an increasingly complex and people-focused workplace, this concept has never been more important.

Why Good Conflict Management Is Essential for Psychosocial Safety Read More »

Now’s the Time to Train as a Mediator!

If you’ve been thinking about gaining formal mediation skills — whether to launch your own conflict resolution practice, strengthen your leadership or HR capabilities, or simply become a more skilled communicator — this is your opportunity. The Conflict Management Academy is offering a brand-new Facilitative Mediation Course, combining flexible online study with an inspiring, in-person

Now’s the Time to Train as a Mediator! Read More »

Co-Mediation: A Reflective Guide to Working Together in Conflict Resolution

Most mediators begin their journey solo — managing the process, reading the room, responding to shifting dynamics, and carrying the emotional load of conflict all on their own. But what happens when two mediators share that space? Co-mediation is a powerful alternative model where two practitioners work together to facilitate a mediation process. It’s more

Co-Mediation: A Reflective Guide to Working Together in Conflict Resolution Read More »

Growing a Mediation Practice: Practical Insights from the Field

The Conflict Management Academy offers regular Business Brainstorming Sessions as an accompaniment to our Beyond the Table course.  These sessions are facilitated by experienced mediator and successful business owner Megan Lewis. Here are some of the key insights and tips shared in the last session. Building a successful mediation practice takes more than just excellent

Growing a Mediation Practice: Practical Insights from the Field Read More »