Five elements of mediation

The certification movement: Past, present, and future

“…In 1988, two significant efforts were put into motion. First, Christopher Honeyman of the Wisconsin Employee Relations Commission, in Madison, incorporated the results of his analysis of the tasks and skills used in the process of labor mediation into a performance-based, role-play examination (Honeyman, 1988). The examination was pilot-tested as a tool for selecting new labor mediators for employment.…”

A consensus on mediators' qualifications

“…Sander, and Michael Lewis), plus Howard Bellman (then a member of SPIDR's Board) and myself as project director. The project originated as a modest attempt to try out some economical variations on the roleplay examination design referred to in the Honeyman (1988) and Honoroff, Matz, and O'Connor (1990) articles. We were determined not to engage in any actions contrary to the Commission's finding that "no single entity (rather, a variety of organizations) should establish qualifications for neutrals."…”

On evaluating mediators

“…I have already offered the proposition that a mediator's basic talents can usefully be distinguished as five different types of skill: investigation, empathy, invention, persuasion and distraction (Honeyman, 1988). I refer to these five as the component skills of mediation, and will argue that they, together with two kinds of experience discussed below, provide a basis for evaluation.…”

“…The fLrst five scales are derived from the mediation hiring examination described in Honeyman, 1988; the latter two represent types of experience not relevant in that exercise. Because they are drafted from the point of view of a caseload in labor relations, they are not appropriate, without adaptation, to all settings.…”

“…The five exemplary mediators described in Honeyman (1988), for exampie, would each come in high on two or three of these scales (different ones in each case), and at least at "2" on the others; and that is as close to perfection as you are likely to meet. (t regret to admit that I myseff wouldn't do as well as they.)…”