Narrative Mediation : A New Approach to Conflict Resolution

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Approach
Review: In one of the finest general mediation books I have ever read, Winslade and Monk present a new perspective on the mediation of disputes. In a departure from the more structured models of mediation presented in the past, these authors introduce a revolutionary approach to the manner in which mediation is approached.

Their theory basically shows conflicts in light of the "life discourse" that people bring to the dispute. The application of "Narrative Mediation" is embodied in the concept, that it is the "story of how the conflict developed" from all parties perspective that is the MOST relevant factor in the deconstruction of the actual underlying issues which make up the conflict presented in each case. The mediator's role, is to allow the parties to describe these factors and through their stories, to reveal their personal positions and their personal influences of their lives that have created the situation and also, give commentary, albeit often unwittingly, as to the manner in which an "Alternative Story" can be developed, that will allow those parties to reconstruct a relationship and a resolution.

While it is certainly true, that the method suggested by Winslade and Monk in their book is more effective when the parties will have an ongoing relationship, it still represents a new and fresh look at the ways in which mediators help facilitate the solutions to the presenting problems. Even though the method seems more suited for such things as continuing employee/employer relationships or the aftermath of divorce, many of the topics covered still have tremendous value and application, even in cases, such as EEOC sexual harassment or constructive or wrongful discharge situations, that seem at least on the surface to be a purely "needs based" type of negotiation, where the parties never want to see each other ever again, post settlement.

Regardless of the type of mediation or ADR a practitioner is involved in, this book represents an extremely valuable insight into a new potential approach to mediation of conflict. The book is recommended for all people in general, but particularly for those involved in resolution of conflict on any level and in any venue. The book is a valuable contribution to the growing library of material on the topic of conflict resolution and should be carefully read and integrated as part of any ADR practitioners skill set.

Rating:
Summary: Settlement Through Alternative Stories
Review: In one of the finest general mediation books I have ever read, Winslade and Monk present a new perspective on the mediation of disputes. In a departure from the more structured models of mediation presented in the past, these authors introduce a revolutionary approach to the manner in which mediation is approached.

Their theory basically shows conflicts in light of the "life discourse" that people bring to the dispute. The application of "Narrative Mediation" is embodied in the concept, that it is the "story of how the conflict developed" from all parties perspective that is the MOST relevant factor in the deconstruction of the actual underlying issues which make up the conflict presented in each case. The mediator's role, is to allow the parties to describe these factors and through their stories, to reveal their personal positions and their personal influences of their lives that have created the situation and also, give commentary, albeit often unwittingly, as to the manner in which an "Alternative Story" can be developed, that will allow those parties to reconstruct a relationship and a resolution.

While it is certainly true, that the method suggested by Winslade and Monk in their book is more effective when the parties will have an ongoing relationship, it still represents a new and fresh look at the ways in which mediators help facilitate the solutions to the presenting problems. Even though the method seems more suited for such things as continuing employee/employer relationships or the aftermath of divorce, many of the topics covered still have tremendous value and application, even in cases, such as EEOC sexual harassment or constructive or wrongful discharge situations, that seem at least on the surface to be a purely "needs based" type of negotiation, where the parties never want to see each other ever again, post settlement.

Regardless of the type of mediation or ADR a practitioner is involved in, this book represents an extremely valuable insight into a new potential approach to mediation of conflict. The book is recommended for all people in general, but particularly for those involved in resolution of conflict on any level and in any venue. The book is a valuable contribution to the growing library of material on the topic of conflict resolution and should be carefully read and integrated as part of any ADR practitioners skill set.

Rating:
Summary: A Social Constructionist Mediation Book
Review: John Winslade and Gerald Monk are two social constructionists out of New Zealand who, according to their own jacket flap, are "leading figures" in the narrative therapy movement. Their's is an interesting book with an interesting thesis: instead of seeing mediation as a problem-solving process where competing interests are resolved, they see it as a process where competing "stories" (or narratives) of the conflict are "deconstructed" and an alternate story is reconstructed. That alternate story is fashioned in large part out of a recognition of the culturally-influenced power relationships between the dispuiting parties, and with awareness of the cultural biases of the mediator as well. This theory specifically acknowledges one of the real weaknesses with conventional mediation, which is that mediators often struggle to maintain the detached neutrality that is expected of them. The narrative approach also seeks to recalibtate the relationship between the disputants instead of simply solving a particular problem.

This grounding in social constuctionist theory is both the strentgh and limitation of this book. First of all, the book is a bit jargonistic in places, as befitting a text with this philosophical underpinning. I would have enjoyed less of the philosophical treatise and more extensive real world examples of how this kind of mediation would actually work in practice. In addition, there is a problem with the theory itself, and that is that it blurs the traditional distinction between mediation and therapy. Since both authors emerged from the Mediation Therapy movement, this may be inevitable, but it is nontheless problematic. While mediation that has a therapeutic objective may be useful at times in settings like divorce mediation (or other disputes where the parties are likely to maintain long-standing relationships), it is not likely to be appropriate in a business setting or for the resolution of small-claim type disputes.

Rating:
Summary: Stories of respect, cooperation, understanding and peace
Review: The authors offer an alternative to the typical problem-solving approach to mediation. The narrative mediation process has three phases: engagement, deconstructing the conflict-saturated story and constructing an alternative story. In the second phase, the mediator attempts to separate the parties from the conflict-saturated story. The mediator seeks gently to undermine the perceived certainties on which the conflicts feeds. In the third phase, the mediator helps craft an alternative story that may lead to settlement of the conflict, but should lead to the development of cooperation and respect between the parties. Narrative mediation also incorporates the idea that people construct stories about the conflict that relate to the cultural "narratives" or stories that form around ethnicity, gender, class, education and financial wealth. Thus, men may bring to a divorce mediation a sense of entitlement based on cultural stories about gender roles. Whites may bring to a dispute a sense of entitlement based on cultural stories about race. The mediator may also bring these stories of entitlement into the process. I especially liked the lengthy role plays used to illustrate specific points. I have also used in my mediation practice the techniques for documenting progress. Letters to the parties at different stages of the process can serve as mileposts in the mediation journey, acknowledging the parties' committment to the process, tracing the effects of the dispute on the parties' lives and well-being, putting the conflict into a meaningful sequence of events, highlighting potential outcomes that the parties have begun to explore, reinforcing process agreements, recording agreements the parties have reached up to that time and preventing slippage back into entrenched positions or conflict-saturated stories. This book was not an easy read, but it has been very useful in my practice.

Rating:
Summary: Stories of respect, cooperation, understanding and peace
Review: The authors offer an alternative to the typical problem-solving approach to mediation. The narrative mediation process has three phases: engagement, deconstructing the conflict-saturated story and constructing an alternative story. In the second phase, the mediator attempts to separate the parties from the conflict-saturated story. The mediator seeks gently to undermine the perceived certainties on which the conflicts feeds. In the third phase, the mediator helps craft an alternative story that may lead to settlement of the conflict, but should lead to the development of cooperation and respect between the parties. Narrative mediation also incorporates the idea that people construct stories about the conflict that relate to the cultural "narratives" or stories that form around ethnicity, gender, class, education and financial wealth. Thus, men may bring to a divorce mediation a sense of entitlement based on cultural stories about gender roles. Whites may bring to a dispute a sense of entitlement based on cultural stories about race. The mediator may also bring these stories of entitlement into the process. I especially liked the lengthy role plays used to illustrate specific points. I have also used in my mediation practice the techniques for documenting progress. Letters to the parties at different stages of the process can serve as mileposts in the mediation journey, acknowledging the parties' committment to the process, tracing the effects of the dispute on the parties' lives and well-being, putting the conflict into a meaningful sequence of events, highlighting potential outcomes that the parties have begun to explore, reinforcing process agreements, recording agreements the parties have reached up to that time and preventing slippage back into entrenched positions or conflict-saturated stories. This book was not an easy read, but it has been very useful in my practice.

Rating:
Summary: An Interesting Approach
Review: This book is a good read for anyone interested in the theory of mediation and why it works. I find the premise of this book to be somewhat over-complicated. Narrative mediation starts from the idea that everyone has their own "story", which positions people in different places which inevitably produce different agendas and therefore conflicts. The authors differentiate this from the traditional view that what gets people into conflicts is that they want something which is an expression of the inner needs or interest. As an experienced mediator, I find the authors' proposed methods of allowing the parties to tell their own stories not necessarily in conflict with the traditional view, as it seems to be an outgrowth of the need to allow the parties to "vent" their point of view, while at the same time encouraging them to listen to each other. However, while I agree that the parties "stories" do place them in different places, I do not agree that the fact that they have different stories necessarily leads to conflict. One cannot discount the existence of an underlying reason for the conflict, apart from the parties' "stories." This is where I part company with the authors. Even so, the book is very helpful for an understanding of the mediation process. For a good "nuts and bolts" book, I also recommend Basic Skills for the New Mediator by Allan H. Goodman, even if you are an experienced mediator.