CoRe Speaker Series – Recap of “Exemplary Leadership: How Dispute Resolution Professionals Can Change Cultures” with Professor Michelle LeBaron

Professor LeBaron hosted an interactive talk on October 25 as part of the three-part CoRe Fall Speaker Series that called participants to critically think about their role as leaders when engaging in dispute resolution. Drawing on a wide variety of quotes, metaphors, and even poetry, Professor LeBaron creatively presented the critical message that dispute resolution professionals have a profound leadership power.

The underlying theme of her discussion called mediators to constantly be aware of the fact that humans are naturally partial, and mediators natural partiality is a fundamental aspect of their role as leaders. She wisely observed, “Even though we say we’re neutral, the micro-communications that we are a part of still come through and have an effect on the participants and the outcome.” The “micro-communications” she referred to could even be as minute as a slight difference in body language the mediator directs towards the participants or even the way in which the mediator amplifies certain things and mutes others during the course of the mediation. She encouraged mediators not to try and suppress this natural partiality, but rather to manage it in a way that welcomes the different and guides the participants through the mediation.

To illustrate this concept further, Professor LeBaron creatively looked to the four natural elements as metaphors for four dimensions of leadership mediators can exercise. She first looked to earth – a solid, grounding element representing commitment to clients. Mediators have the ability to use their leadership to ground people; they can guide people who are at their most vulnerable through established processes, and use their expertise to find constructive remains in the midst of conflict. Professor LeBaron called on participants in the session to come up with their own metaphors for how they help people to find their solid ground – as shaman, as conductor, as stuntman were only a few creative ideas that were posed.

Professor LeBaron next turned to the element of air, which she equated with beauty and collaboration. The ability of mediators to appreciate the strengths and resilience of the parties and to weave them into the mediation allows for small moments of beauty to be realized in the midst of difficult conflicts. Mediators can also control the sensory parts of the mediation to provide small moments of beauty, even as through small touches like the aesthetics of the room. Connections occur between parties during these moments of beauty.

The third element Professor LeBaron looked to was water, which served as a metaphor for cultural fluency. She provided participants with a vivid image of water weaving around the various “rocks” or barriers parties face in recognizing and coping with cultural difference. She pointed out that mediators must take a tailored approach by asking questions and by recognizing alternative logic systems, values, and social stigmas. Mediators must tread carefully around these issues since each person has their own uniqueness, and be able to be comfortable with ambiguity.

Finally, Professor LeBaron discussed the element of fire, which represented creativity. When parties are in the midst of difficult conflict, they do not naturally act in creative ways and therefore need the leadership of mediators to foster creativity and collaboration. Professor LeBaron told a captivating story at this point about the deepening colours and richness of clay pots when subjected to fires. She encouraged mediators themselves to “stand in the fire”, and take innovative risks to find creative solutions. She also asked participants to articulate where their wellspring of creativity comes from, and reflect on how it could be applied to their work.

Professor Lebaron guided participants at this Speaker Series session through a rich exploration of their leadership capacity in dispute resolution. She thoroughly impressed upon everyone the importance of this leadership capacity, the natural partial nature of it, and four core elements of its expression.

The next two Speaker Series Events take place this month. On November 15, from 4:30=6:00 PM, is John Wade’s “How to be an Effective Hard Bargainer – 10 Lessons”, and on November 30, 4:30-6:30 PM Lee Turnbull will be giving an Ethics Workshop. Both events are at the KPMG offices downtown at 777 Dunsmuir Street and cost $20 for non-CoRe members. RSVP to coreclinic1@gmail.com to reserve a seat!