Page 112 - USA BOOK FINAL PDF---08-09-2020web-1_Neat-final

The key to pursuing rewarding work as an ADR professional:

• Learn and practice neutral work across contexts: seek opportunities to be trainedin
trained in
university, court, and community programs. and practice in a variety of fields, as
programs,
each will broaden both your skills. Attend most every training and conference you
can; to offset costs, offer to volunteer in organizing the event, seek scholarships or
reduced registration fees.

• Build relationships within the field: get to know fellow dispute resolution
practitioners through local ADR organizations as well as trainings and conferences;
while few may provide you work, many will help you to learn where opportunities
may arise. Find a Mentor who you can shadow and co-mediate with.

• Recognize your market: be thoughtful to consider to whom you seek to provide
them, Consider
dispute resolution skills, and how to approach them.Consider your unique strengths
and skills.

• Consider ADR related roles: conflict coaching, and Organizational Ombudsman
roles are emerging as areas of practice sought after by many businesses. There
are separate qualifications for both, but they share similar core competencies as
required for mediation.

• Align your work with your values: all of the above are facilitated greatly by a
commitment to constructive, non-violent, respectful, non-adversarial approaches
to solving difficult issues.

In short, having a successful practice as a dispute resolution practitioner has less to
do with being a lawyer or a retired judge, and far more to do with being a consummate
professional with the passion and commitment to doing a good job and caring about
serving the needs of the client. The skills and competencies required to be a strong
dispute resolution professional are not unique to those with a law degree. It is the
application of these competencies in creative ways that is critical for the success of all
ADR professionals as this field continues to evolve. Those who have been successful in
forging a new pathare those who are willing to take risks, think outside the box, and
identify business needs and opportunities where our expertise can be useful.

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