COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

All of CMC’s advanced level mediation and/or negotiation courses require the completion of a Basic Skills course or equivalent experience. CMC can customize any of its course offerings and present them in-house. All CMC programs described (except for  "Coaching") are for in-house presentation. Online programs are under development. They are not available now.

 

Introductory /Basic Mediation Skills

(20 hours) This program provides training in basic mediation skills; understanding conflict; determining real at-stake issues; how to encourage creative solutions; dealing with emotions; ethical considerations; identifying and neutralizing power imbalances; and challenging role-plays.

 

Civil Mediation Skills

(20 hours) This intermediate level program is a second level course following the Introductory or basic mediation skills training. It teaches skills such as dealing with complex and technical issues; multi-party matters; relationship of counsel to the mediation process; use of outside resources/experts and how to deal effectively with breakdown and obstacles to resolution.

 

Workplace/EEO Mediation Skills

(20 hours) This is an intermediate level course.  As its name implies, the concentration here is on workplace issues such as claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, poor working environment and work-based relationships. This is CMCs most popular course in government and organizations and advises the mediator on how to deal with the rapid expansion of EEO and other workplace related claims.

 

Advanced Mediator Skills

(20 hours) This advanced skills level course deals with complex, challenging issues confronting mediators. It covers the mediator/conflict resolution administrator responsibilities before, during and after the session(s). Emphasis is on the mediated agreement and its legal effect and enforcement. Completion of a minimum of 40 hours of Basic and Intermediate Mediation Skills is a prerequisite.

 

Family Mediation Skills 

(20 hours) Designed originally to meet the Virginia Supreme Court’s rigid training certification requirement for family mediators, this course is recommended for all serious mediation students.  The outcome of this training is a greater awareness of complex, psychological and emotional factors in interpersonal mediation as well as how mediators should handle family-oriented disputes. This program may be taken all at once or in modules.

 

Dealing with Violence and Abuse Issues for Mediators and Others

(8 hours) This program allows the mediator to screen for and identify signs of violence or abuse; when and how to make referrals; how to protect parties and mediators. This program is a must for mediators in highly charged disputes including family cases.

 

Partnering/Facilitation

(1, 2 or 3 days) Partnering is rapidly growing as a most effective form of dispute resolution - dispute prevention. The benefits of collaborative problem solving go beyond preventing disputes. They include such positive results as: improved communication; on budget/on-time or even early performance; improved long-term personal and business relationships; improved understanding of requirements; realization of project expectations; fair and prompt payment; and absence of costly, time consuming litigation. CMC Partnering Facilitators have been effective in assisting parties in the prevention and/or resolution of conflict in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia.

 

Organizational Mediation: Mediator Skills for Managers*

(1, 2 or 3 days) It is accepted these days that traditional “top-down” management styles no longer work.  Managers and Supervisors today must negotiate and collaborate with subordinates and peers.  This course puts tools of the professional mediator into the hands of managers and supervisors. It uses the proven Relationship Awareness ® approach to assist in determining motivational styles and how people behave when things are going well or when they are in conflict. Results from this program will build better workplace relationships, provide additional leadership skills to managers, improve productivity, reduce conflict costs and increase employee satisfaction and retention.

* “Relationship Awareness” is a registered trademark of Personal Strengths Publishing, Inc. (“PSP”). These courses are presented pursuant to license from PSP.

 

Mediator Skills for Individuals

(8 hours) It has been shown that when individuals learn the value of positive negotiation and cooperation, performance and self-satisfaction increase. This course teaches professional mediator tools which can help individuals resolve problems for themselves and assist others in doing so. The result is a powerful new technology which can enhance both individual and organizational performance.

 

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Basic and Advanced Negotiation Training Programs:

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General/Basic Negotiation Skills

(8-20 hours) This program provides training in basic negotiation skills; determining real interests of parties i.e. “at-stake” issues; planning and executing a negotiation strategy; how to encourage creative win-win solutions and neutralize power imbalances; uses both basic instruction and challenging role-plays.

 

Advanced Negotiation Skills

(20 hours) This advanced skills level course deals with complex, challenging issues confronting negotiators. It covers the necessary planning, preparation and execution steps for successful negotiation - before, during and after the session(s). Major emphasis on this program is placed on practical exercises illustrating each of the necessary steps in negotiating more challenging issues. Intense mentoring and coaching from the training staff is conducted for all participants. Completion of a minimum of 20 hours of Basic Negotiation Skills or the equivalent experience is a prerequisite.

 

Executive Briefings and Coaching

Using its skill and experience in conflict prevention, management and resolution, CMC offers management and employee briefings and coaching on a range of conflict related topics.  Briefings and coaching can be arranged for groups of any size and can be tailored for time frames of one hour to a full day. Coaching and consulting services are also offered to individuals.

 

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