Approach
"I have taken, and given, trainings in mediation and facilitation, and I am always left with the belief that mediators and facilitators are born, not made. You either are drawn to the middle of conflicts and differences, or not. I am one of those people. This doesn't mean that I love to fight, or even that I can fight. In fact, in my experience, some of the best mediators and facilitators don't fight well and don't like to be part of a conflict. What we do like is being in the middle, seeing all sides, understanding, empathizing, and explaining one side to the other.
After many years of mediating and facilitating, I treasure the complexities in conflict. I approach each situation eager to learn, knowing that each one is unique. I know I must listen first to those who know the conflict best, those who are engaged in it. I also realize that I must think carefully about my role. Can this situation benefit from some kind of neutral intervention? What kind of process is needed? Am I the right one to help out? I want to give the conflict and the parties the same kind of thoughtful attention that I will expect them to give to each other and the resolution."