Success as a Mediator For Dummies

by Victoria Pynchon, Joe Kraynak

Everything you need to enter the exciting field of mediation To be an effective mediator, it's essential to possess the ability to take control of contentious situations, facilitate discussion, and lead people to better solutions than those they'd be capable of reaching without your lead--all the while remaining neutral without formulating biased judgment.  Success as a Mediator For Dummies helps you acquire these attributes and much more. Aspiring mediators will learn the importance of upholding an honorable reputation, the skills, personality traits, and characteristics of a good mediator, and how to effectively market a successful mediation career. Plus, you'll get practical advice about finding work in the field, realistic salary information, and tips on as tips on identifying whether you have the skills and tools to become a good mediator.
Whether you have a background in law, an interest in legal careers or a desire to help your friends, neighbors, fellow workers or the members of your business or professional sphere, Success as a Mediator For Dummies gives you everything you need to enter the exciting field of mediation.

368 pages, Paperback

First published March 2, 2012

Reviews

[Alain Burrese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victoria Pynchon (with Joe Kraynak) did an outstanding job with the book “Success as a Mediator For Dummies.” The book contains an excellent overview and practical advice in regards to many areas of mediation, including advice on finding a mediation market, required education and training, hints on networking with other mediators, the various styles of mediation, and much more. I'd easily recommend this book to anyone wanting to get into the field of mediation, and even for those of us that have been mediating for a long time can find refreshing information within the 340 pages of this book.

The book is divided into five parts, with each part consisting of several chapters. The first part introduces the reader to mediation with chapters on achieving success as a mediator, choosing the right niche, and getting training for your chosen market and niche.

Part two focuses on become a master mediator and provides information on the mediation process, mediating with and without lawyers, the various mediation styles, developing and honing mediation skills, and how to employ conflict dynamics to resolve disputes.

The third part of the book delves into improving your success rate as a mediator. Chapters cover topis such as establishing and maintaining control during a mediation, transitioning from adversarial negotiation to collaborative mediation, capitalizing on your people skills, problem solving, breaking through impasse, and closing and memorializing the parties' agreement.

Part four of the book focuses on business aspects of a mediation practice and how to launch your own practice. There are chapters on building your business from the ground up, marketing yourself and your business online and off, and how to grow your business through client retention and community.

The fifth and final part of the book has three chapters that contain lists of ten: ten practices of the super mediator, ten major mediating mistakes and how to avoid them, and ten tips for busting impasse.

I really found this book to be an excellent general guide to mediating and being successful as a mediator, just what the title promises. Obviously, any practitioner will seek out the training as outlined in the respective chapter, and will also want to continue their education with various books and courses in the field. But this particular book makes a great start, and a great addition to any mediation resource library. The mediator that reads this text and applies the advice found within the clear and succinct chapters will undoubtedly be more successful both in mediating and running a mediation business.