Arbitration & Mediation

Mediators Puzzle Over Social Media

Posted on November 03, 2008
Social Media- you mean when reporters go for drinks? Honestly, who doesn’t get a little befuddled understanding what social networking is and what it’s good for.  Facebook, Twitter and the array of social bookmarking sites (Digg, Stumbleupon, Kirsty, Fark) all essentially do the same thing...

Your Mediation Practice: Wishful thinking or Sustainable Business?

Posted on October 28, 2008
I’m a big believer in the power of our own dreams.  If you read Mensch at all you know that already.  Being passionate about your work, the people, the future can’t be underestimated, I think.  Believing has gotten me through some pretty hairy moments when people thought I was crazy, a maverick or both...

Three Cool Tech Tools for Mediators

Posted on October 21, 2008
The Internet is a wonderful thing…when it works.   Early on, finding anything I wanted on the internet seemed like a miracle.   Curious about blogs.  Search blogs and up pops articles and tools about blogging.  Curious about how mediation is used by corporations?  Blam…...

International Conflict Resolution Day- Oct 16th!

Posted on October 15, 2008
We’re kicking off the the holiday season with International Conflict Resolution Day!  What is it? The Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR) Board of Directors adopted a resolution designating the third Thursday in October annually as Conflict Resolution Day in order to increase public awareness about conflict resolution and its [...

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Sowing the Seeds of Growth in Your Conflict Training Practice

Posted on October 07, 2008
There’s an old sales adage that say good salesmen get excited when they make the first sale, but great salesmen work for the third one. Ok, I hear you saying, "but I’m a mediator not a salesperson."  Ah, wrong.  Before you can rid the world of faulty communication you first have to convince someone to try [...

Mediator, are you silencing yourself?

Posted on September 22, 2008
Mediator have a plethora of good qualities- thoughtful, supportive, openess- just to mention a few.  Two of my favorite attributes are probably not what you’d expect.   I love that mediators are patient and unstressed by ambiguity. The Craft of Silence It’s been my blessing and honor to co-mediate with some of the very best mediators as an [...

ADR Careers Beyond the Table

Posted on September 15, 2008
I have a checkered past.  And, I’m damned proud of it.  I’ve held just about every positon there is within the mediation field, except being an Executive Director. Honestly - Mediator. Trainer. Case Evaluator. Program organizer. You name it, I’ve done it all...

Is Your Website Sticky?

Posted on September 01, 2008
Let’s assume you have a website or blog.  If you don’t already have one, you’re missing out on a tremendous opportunity to inform, influence and educate your market.  And, frankly, with the plethora of site building tools and companies you really have no excuse...

Turning Speaking into Mediating and More, part 2

Posted on August 25, 2008
You’ve selected your ideal market group and delivered a fascinating 20 minute talk that kept the audience engaged and asking questions for another 30 minutes. You’re thrilled and so is the organizer, who looks golden because of all your preparation...

Speaking can lead to mediating and more?part 1

Posted on August 17, 2008
There are a few tried and true ways to get the word out about your mediation practice, and speaking is one of them. Ok, I know that public speaking ranks in the top five of universal fears, but please, people. Get over it. The best way to do that is to start small with [...

Nastia and I both won the Gold!

Posted on August 15, 2008
Whew! ADRPracticebuilder.com re-Launchs today! It was tough getting those finishing touches done while watching the Olympics until 1, but I didn’t want to miss women’s gymnastics. Can you believe Nastia Lukin- wow! Here’s your chance to grab some gold, too...

Mediation Marketing Teleseminar today!

Posted on August 13, 2008
More about that in a minute. Now, I want to talk Olympics. I don’t know about you, but I’m addicted. As the clock nears 11 each night I remind myself that I should go to bed, that I’ll get all the exciting news in the morning. Then, I ignore myself [...

What?s holding you back, Mediators?

Posted on August 11, 2008
Could it possibly be you? I ask because lately in both my professional and personal lives there’s plenty of evidence that people keep themselves from doing the things they love and having what they want. Yesterday, I had an interesting chat with Irina Shea, one of the brightest young lawyers I know and founder of [...

Naming your Mediation Practice

Posted on August 04, 2008
To quote Bill Shakespeare, "What’s in a name? Would not a rose by any other name still smell as sweet?" That’s quite a question, and one that mediators wrestle with when deciding what to name their practices. I remember how much thought I put into naming my very first practice way back in the 90’s...

Workplace Mediaton and Conflict Coaching

Posted on July 31, 2008
You’ve heard me talk many times about unbunding your mediation skills to expand your practice and your income. It’s essential to think of yourself less as a mediator and more as a solution provider. That distinction is especially important if you want to practice in today’s workplace...

Mediation Pricing from Across the Pond

Posted on June 08, 2008
What to charge as a mediator has always been a dicey topic. Just like in mediation itself, the number means so much more than the actual number. What we ask for says quite a bit about who we are as practitioners- new or established, confident or cautious- and how we value our life’s work...

Testing

Posted on June 06, 2008
Just a quick test to diagnose a technical problem.

Let Me Tell You Why So Few Mediators Make Money

Posted on June 06, 2008
This is a question that plagues our profession, don’t you think? It seems a mystery yet the answer is pretty straight-forward. So few mediators make money, in my opinion, because they lack the skills and mindset to be business people first and practitioners second...

Mensch Gets a Blog Makeover

Posted on February 20, 2008
Over 50,000 words. And, that's not even total amount I've written about mediation marketing, online marketing and finding the right niche since 2005, when I launched MediationMensch.com. I look back on those early days so fondly. I felt like a pioneer, braving the new world of the Internet...

Mediation vs Arbitration Clauses- Which to Choose?

Posted on February 12, 2008
Got a Visa card, Mastercard or almost any other credit card? Then you, my friend, are now subject to an arbitration clause. That means you agreed to waive your right to a jury trial should a dispute arise. Same thing with your telephone agreement, health insurance and bank loans, according to Cardratings...

Innovative Marketing by Family Law Mediator/Family Therapist Team

Posted on February 07, 2008
A Day in the Life: Attorney/Mediator and Therapist Mediation Team- Diana Mercer, Esq. and Tara Fass, LMFT 2/11/08 10 am PST/ 1 pm ESTFrankly, I can't wait for Monday's call. The conversation I had with Tara and Diana this week was fascinating. We touched on everything from the usefulness of lawyer referrals to how set fees to their worst marketing mistake (which they graciously agreed to share on the call)...

Learn to Blog- Video Tutorials for Mediators

Posted on February 06, 2008
Seeing is believing. In this case, seeing is learning.Year of the BlogThis is THE year of the blogger for mediators as I proclaimed in an earlier post. And, it's time to get started. I'm planning a blogtasitc event for April that will bring a variety of blogging professionals directly into your home...

Ask Mediation Mensch a Mediation Marketing Question

Posted on February 02, 2008
It's an occupational hazard, and maybe hazardous to my health (you heard about the cat, right?), but I love to ask questions. And, I hope you do, too. Got Questions?I write this blog with the intention of sharing what I know and learn about mediation, online and social media marketing with you...

Ask Mediation Mensch a Mediation Marketing Question

Posted on February 02, 2008
It’s an occupational hazard, and maybe hazardous to my health (you heard about the cat, right?), but I love to ask questions. And, I hope you do, too. Got Questions? I write this blog with the intention of sharing what I know and learn about mediation, online and social media marketing with you...

Blog, Blog, Blog, Mediation Blog World!

Posted on January 28, 2008
2008 is the year of the mediation blog, people!The blogging world is exploding with new ideas, formats, creative uses and money! Mediators, we got to get in now because the popularity and power of blogging is only going to grow.Why Blog?Because blogging is one of the most compelling and egalitarian communication tools around...

Wordpress Enthusiasts get Free Ad Design Work

Posted on January 22, 2008
I'm a bargain hunter and damned proud of it. This is a quick post to introduce those of you interested in starting a blog to Mark Lloyd, web developer and designer. Mark's site, www.MarkLloyd.org, features articles and blog posts that yield great tools and offers...

An Impromptu Blog Review- Theraputic Family Law

Posted on January 20, 2008
Recently B. James Stinson, author of Theraputic Family Law blog, sent a comment and some link love my way. As a small token of thanks, I offered a suggestion or two for improving his site, which has good content but a few design issues. Here’s what I had to say: Hey James, thanks for the terrific [...

Consulting that Builds Mediation Businesses

Posted on January 15, 2008
To paraphrase former President Clinton, it's a business, silly. Not a hobby, a cause or charity. Mediation practice is a business.That's the message that most mediators need to grasp as they grow from new mediator to competent, confident business owner...

Your Plans for 2008- Start NOW!

Posted on January 09, 2008
Stop and ask yourself: what's the one thing I'd like to accomplish this year?Are You Full of It?It's a tough question. Answering requires courage, vision, and most of all discipline. Discipline is where most of us, including me, get stuck. Like most entrepreneurs I'm full of it--good ideas, that is...

An Impromptu Blog Review- Theraputic Family Law

Posted on January 07, 2008
Recently B. James Stinson, author of Theraputic Family Law blog, sent a comment and some link love my way. As a small token of thanks, I offered a suggestion or two for improving his site, which has good content but a few design issues.Here's what I had to say:Hey James, thanks for the terrific comment and the 'link love' to ADRPracticebuilder...

A Blogging Plan for 2008

Posted on January 02, 2008
Taking time off does wonderful things for me. I get a chance to 'wander' around the internet and be inspired by the remarkable talents of other bloggers like British blogger Alex Bainbridge who blogs about travel ecommerce.A Blog PlanYou never know where a good idea will come from so I read everything...

Take This Idea, Pls: Teach Teens/Parents Conflict Skills Online

Posted on December 28, 2007
Blogs are an important tool. For mediators, a blog is an essential communication tool that's ideally suited for being rapport and trust with potential clients and referrals sources. Think of it as conversation over coffee gone digital. While most of our efforts are focused on adults...

Biz, Net, Info or Not: Picking a Domain Extension

Posted on December 21, 2007
It never ceases to amaze me how complicated something very easy can become. Got a problem. Easy solution- talk it out. Want a domain name- get the .com. Quick,simple, easy...right? Wrong, there are many options about domain strategy. This is my take on it...

Divorce-proof your Marriage with Mediators

Posted on December 19, 2007
December is the most popular month for popping the question, which fills this mediator with loads of holiday cheer. Why? A skillful family or marriage mediator can build a practice by assisting couples to answer the second big question: I will, then what?According to a Boston Globe article, couples, who were once surrounded my family and friends who could offer marriage advice, now need a different kind of support system to navigate the challenges of learning to live together and be happily married...

mediator blah...blah...: Two interesting questions

Posted on December 16, 2007
The secret is out mediation has the potential to be a million dollar business. Stop, and read that again. What a powerfully motivating statement. I get teary just thinking about how much good that means in the world.Count Me InI glean a lot of valuable information from the small business and women entrepreneur markets but we have a sort of love/hate relationship...

Learning Circles Offer Accountability and Resources

Posted on December 10, 2007
What do mediators have in common with the Maytag repairman? Both can be lonely jobs. That's one reason why we created a new way for family or workplace mediators to interact: Learning Circles! I'll share the outcomes from the first calls in two posts...

Take This Idea: Commerical Mediators Wheel & Deal with Entrepreneurs

Posted on December 07, 2007
Finding the right niche is critical to your success as a mediator. While most folks can identify a broad niche, say family or workplace, it's those who dig a bit deeper that find the gold.Reading NY Report while in bed this morning I saw a great article on Buy/Sell Agreements...

Cool FREE Tech Tools

Posted on November 28, 2007
If you're a gadgethead like me, you're gonna be very happy. Camtasia, the recognized leaders in video recording software, is offering Camtasia for FREE!You can download a free copy of Camtasia 3 for your own use. What's the catch?None, really. It's an older version of the software...

Take this Idea, Pls: Wrap up the 'Sandwich Generation'

Posted on November 20, 2007
34 million people in this country are getting squeezed- and we can help.Called the 'sandwich generation', these folks wrestle with the huge task of caring for both their children and their aging parents while working full-time, according to a recent MSNBC article...

Forum Marketing for Mediators

Posted on November 16, 2007
Generally, mediators are known for creating a forum for exchanging interests and ideas. But, what if we just got known in forums instead. (ok, bad pun- just trying to be funny)What is a Forum?Let's start with the basics. A forum is an online discussion space where members exchange ideas publicly...

Meet Avatar Dina

Posted on November 13, 2007
An Ava-what?I couldn't resist sharing this bit of silliness from the folks at Yahoo! This is an avatar, a digital creation, that I developed over at Yahoo Answers. (Kinda scary how good the likeness is, although my hubby says I'm cuter). An avatar is a great solution for someone who wants to add his or her picture on a blog or website but doesn't want or like their true image...

Educational Marketing Teaches Mediators a New Lesson

Posted on November 02, 2007
Didn't I say that educating your marketing about mediation was the way to go? Looks like I'm not the only one who thinks so....Check out this recent article in Business Week that confirms educating potential clients on how to solve their problems is a very powerful marketing tool...

Take This Idea, Pls-DR for Daycare Providers

Posted on November 01, 2007
Do you know what true conflict is? Getting a 2 year old in a snowsuit quickly when he or she doesn't want to do it. Help Them, Help UsOver the years, I've learned that child care is a pressure-filled industry. You can imagine all the different issues that arise...

Halloween Treat to Avoid IRS Trick

Posted on October 29, 2007
Halloween, my favorite holiday! With less than 48 hours to go I hope you're prepared with plenty of treats and a nifty costume. (I'm handing out candy this year as 'Ugly Betty').Now, is also a good time to get prepared for....da da da dummmm ...pre-tax planning for your 2008 tax bill...

6 Questions about Mediation Marketing Coaching

Posted on October 29, 2007
?What is individual coaching like?? That?s one of the most common questions mediators ask me. Normally, I take care of this with a brief call or email, but I thought it would be helpful to share what happens at a ?typical coach session? in an article, too...

Sales Calls for Mediators

Posted on October 23, 2007
Back in the day, when I first starting courting corporate work, getting a human resources person to take a meeting with me was tough. Just getting a live person on the phone was a miracle. Then, once I got the meeting I frequently encountered what I call stall tactics...

Happy Conflict Resolution Day!

Posted on October 18, 2007
On Halloween, we give out candy and treats. For Chanukah, we give gifts. How the heck do you celebrate Conflict Resolution Day? Many, many wonderful ways.Today, I'm hosting a no-cost teleseminar entitled, So You Want to Be a Mediator at 2 p.m. We'll answer questions about how to enter the field, being an ADR entrepreneur and just getting to know each other...

Provocative Mediation Question

Posted on October 17, 2007
Is it ok to make money? It's a question that every mediator has to grapple with eventually. I don't have the answers (I'm hoping you'll tell me in the comments below). I do have this observation.We Just Don't Talk About MoneyWe don't talk about financial measures as a profession or status as individuals...

Is Mensch a Top 10 Blog?

Posted on October 12, 2007
Michael Steizner over at Writing White Papers is seeking nominations for the Top 10 Marketing Blogs. What's very cool about this polling is that it opens up a completely new source of terrific marketing blogs to read. You are staying up on new marketing trends and ideas by reading blogs, right? It's a great way to be inspired, informed and supported...

Better than Papelbon: What's Your Best Elevator Pitch?

Posted on October 05, 2007
Nobody likes doing an elevator pitch. It's nerve-wracking. A bit embarrassing. And, surely you never quite get out all the words you practiced for so long. And, yet... if you nail that 30 seconds of flirtation, new clients and connections await you...

Getting a Foot in Corporate's Door

Posted on October 02, 2007
Many mediators ask me what's the secret to landing a workplace gig. I've worked with many companies large and small on a variety of projects. There isn't a secret but here are a few tips to share.Be Broad. Unbundle your SkillsFrom designing an internal mediation program for Polaroid to serving as a facilitator as Colonial Gas merged to acting as conflict coach for senior executives at Fleet to training managers at Milipore, each project required different skills and knowledge beyond simply mediator...

Google Tool for Niche-Mining

Posted on September 28, 2007
Staying on top of your niche is important. Thanks to Google.com it's also easy. Google TrendsJust beginning to investigate your niche? Try Google Trends, a new tool, to see what the trends are for your niche. Pop in your keywords and out comes a graphical report of the trends in that area for this year and three prior years...