Brains On Purpose™

Brains on Purpose™ included in list of 50 Fascinating Brain Science Blogs

The link to the excellent list is here.

Which metaphor do you like? Is a mediator a human alarm clock or a knight with no daze?

We are most easily manipulated when we are in our day-to-day daze, sleepwalking through life. The level of awareness, and degree of somnambulism, of each person in the conflict room can be affected by a mediator who is awake and mindful. Think of the conflict professional as a human alarm clock, not typically jarring, but nevertheless influential and noticeable. The awake and mindful professional's presence revives and alerts. And she has no snooze button.

Whether or not the mindfulness of the mediator can affect the conflict resolution process is a matter of debate. If you read this blog, you know that I think the mediator's mindfulness has impact. There is a continuum along which this debate roams and sometimes rages.

On one end of the continuum are those who think the self-awareness and mindfulness of the mediator is paramount to his competence. On the other end are those who say the proper application of techniques is the critical ingredient. I lean much more to the first-described end of the continuum, but acknowledge some skills, some practices, are needed.

Why do I think mindfulness is important? Many reasons, but perhaps the most important