UIA World Forum of Mediation Centres Prague, Czech Republic 7 th -8 th June, 2013 Mining the Minds of Mediators – Part 1 Zoe Giannopoulou, PhD Attorney at Law, Accredited Mediator by the Greek Ministry of Justice ADR Accredited Mediator, UK Accredited Mediator International Academy of Alternative Dispute Resolution, USA Accredited Mediator Harvard Law School, Negotiation Institute, Mediation Training Mata UK (Advanced Mediation Training) Member of ADRg UK International Training Faculty Accredited Trainer The Toolkit Company, The Netherlands

be realistic 1

You will not be an overnight phenomenon Clients will come because of well- earned reputation It will take between 1-2 years to make a reasonable living

Keep your day-job Work part-time Preserve time for mediation business development

Plan your work. Work your plan. 2

Acquire training, experience & public awareness Prepare a strategic, a financial & a marketing plan

Write a short essay to yourself 3

Why do I want to be a mediator? What do I hope to accomplish? What will I use my mediation skills to do? How will my background contribute to my future practice in mediation?

Do I need a steady paycheck, or do I prefer to be self-employed ? Do I want to mediate full-time, part- time, or as an adjunct service to my existing career? Do I want to be paid for my services, or to mediate as a volunteer ?

Write your mediator bio 4

Read different mediators’ bios Pick the best & create your template Use relevant expertise from negotiating business deals or litigating cases Honesty & commitment to the process are the essential attributes of any successful mediator

Build relationships with other mediators 5

Join & participate in the community of ADR practitioners Exchange knowledge, debate ideas & contribute to the conversation

Learn and Network at Trainings & Conferences 6

Try role playing Get a quick overview of the field at conferences Take workshops with leading trainers

Invest in the best training or education possible 7

Find out your country’s training requirements Select a training program with: Ongoing support Mentoring Advanced mediation training Opportunities to mediate Continuing education is critical to your professional development

View every interaction with others as an opportunity to advance the field 8

Educate new acquaintances about the work we do Have that elevator speech ready Build public awareness of the value of mediation and create positive associations

Social Networks 9

Develop a professional presence on Facebook, LinkedIn & Twitter Create a website that describes your business & highlights skills or specialties Develop a strategy to differentiate your business Create a blog to answer common questions

Practice Practice Practice 10

Volunteer to mediate Join or create an ADR group in your own organization Join internal educational programs to sharpen skills and make the firm aware of your skills as a mediator and ADR specialist

…and finally be persistent & patient

Remember. Patience is a virtue but Persistence gets things done!