From Conflict to Cooperation: How to Mediate a Dispute

In this book, anyone wanting to master the skills of mediation would to well to be familiar with this book. It gives a lot of specific guidance and tips that can be easily incorporated into your mediation style. For instance, the book discusses how to set up the seating of the mediation. It tells you where the parties should sit as well as where the mediator should sit in relation to them. Rather than just telling the reader, the author continues to explain why this method of seating works better than the others. The author makes other use of this kind of explanation. She explains body language and phrasing of questions. Not only are there illustrations of this, but she also has dialogues that demonstrate what she means. She also highlights how things can go wrong. Since these dialogues are based in hypothetical business or family situations, the reader is likely to relate. If I had to have a problem with the book, it would be with proofreading. There are quite a few typographical errors in the book. For me, it got a little distracting, but the information in the book is worth it nonetheless. I would recommend this book for help in improving mediation skills.

Dr. Potter provides clearly written instructions and examples for tackling the problems associated with the process of mediation. She includes nonverbal language as well as advice on the physical arrangement of the room. Included is a chapter on how to behave when you are the disputant. I would recommend this book for those involved in a dispute at the office, in the home, or among friends.