Report from the First Co-resolution Training and Introducing the Ohio Co-resolution Project

The other thing that was absorbing my attention since my last blogging spurt was the first ever training in co-resolution.


After my failed attempt in July to organize a co-resolution event, I am happy to report that on November 13th, 2009, eight members of the central Ohio ADR community gathered to spend the better part of the day learning about and training in co-resolution. The attendees included mediators in private practice, leaders of court-connected and agency-connected mediation programs, mediators for non-profit groups, and graduates of masters level ADR programs.


Following four hours of lecture/discussion and two hours of role-playing, this is what the attendees had to say about co-resolution:

"This process brings out the best in people."

"This may be a brilliant master stroke that will impact the entire field...couldn't have come at a better time"

"The role plays were a real turning point in understanding the process."

"I had some serious doubts...I am leaving the training feeling that Co-Resolution has some significant promise to advancing ADR goals."


In my reaction to these reactions, let me say that I did predict that people would see the value of this process. I hypothesized that once parties were able to both feel protected (because they have the personal attention of a negotiation coach) and trust the other side (because the opposing coach cannot promote competitive negotiation tactics), then the parties would be able to follow their higher selves instead of engaging in an attack-and-defend approach to negotiation.


However, I did not predict that the role plays would be such an effective educational tool. The attendees were able to comprehend my arguments and listen patiently as I lectured on the co-resolution concept, but they were only able to truly soak up and grasp the idea once they had applied it in role plays. Acting as either the co-resolvers or the parties, they were able to experience the dynamics at play in co-resolution and arrive at insights and interpretations of their own.


So with all evaluation sheets rating the co-resolution concept and the training itself at 5 out of 5, I declare that this endeavor was a success. However, more than just reaffirming the value of the co-resolution concept, this training produced something that I've been hoping for for years...


Shortly after the training, I sent out an email to the participants inviting their further support and initiative in putting co-resolution into practice. And in response, I found three people who seem to have the courage, creativity, initiative, and wisdom to try out a new dispute resolution process.


More details as events unfold.