The Mediator's Toolkit, Second Edition: Formulating and Asking Questions for Successful Outcomes

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Gerry O'Sullivan

The Mediator's Toolkit, Second Edition

Formulating and Asking Questions for Successful Outcomes

Gerry O'Sullivan

$79.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
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English

New Society Publishers
10 June 2025

Communication studies; Social, group or collective psychology; Business negotiation; Arbitration, mediation & alternative dispute resolution

The acclaimed guide to formulating and asking penetrating, paradigm-shifting mediation questions to successfully resolve conflict, now completely revised and updated.

Knowing how to formulate and ask incisive questions is essential for effective mediation and conflict resolution. The Mediator's Toolkit, Second Edition, is the proven, practical guide to formulating and posing powerful questions that get to the core of an issue, challenge entrenched thinking, and shift perspectives.

This fully revised edition delivers advanced techniques while leveraging the latest neuroscientific research and psychological concepts to help mediation practitioners and participants gain increased insight.

Readers will benefit from a comprehensive analysis of the newly updated ""S Questions Model,"" a process-driven conceptual framework which takes a deep dive into the four key dimensions of building impactful and robust mediation questions: subject matter, structure, seeking information and shifting-thinking. The resulting toolkit includes:

The scientific theories and concepts underpinning each aspect of the model Safe and productive approaches for effectively managing blame, addressing toxic language, navigating highly charged emotions, encouraging effective listening, getting to underlying interests, and creating empowerment Detailed background, use cases, examples, hazard warnings and key learnings for numerous categories of neutral, exploratory questions including those based on neurolinguistic programming, cognitive elements, journeys of inference, distinction and difference and many more.

This indispensable reference will radically sharpen, focus, and improve the dispute-resolution strategies and communication skills of qualified mediators and facilitators, students, lecturers, trainers, and anyone using questions to challenge assumptions, foster connectedness, and effect change in any context.

By: Gerry O'Sullivan
Imprint: New Society Publishers
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: Second Edition
Dimensions: Height: 254mm, Width: 203mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 662g
ISBN: 9781774060247
ISBN 10: 1774060248
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 10 June 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , Primary , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Acknowledgments Glossary Introduction Section 1: The S Questions Model — Theory Chapter 1: Introduction and Purpose of the S Questions Model Chapter 2: How We Process and Communicate Information and Thought-Flow-Tracking Chapter 3: Working with the Brain in Mediation Section 2: Practical Application of the S Questions Model Chapter 4: Methodology to Minimize an Avoid-threat Reflex When Asking Questions Chapter 5: The S Questions Model Applied to a Mediation Process Section 3: Practical Application of S1, S2 and S3 Questions Chapter 6: S1: The Subject Matter Dimension of Questions Chapter 7: S2: The Structure Dimension of Questions Chapter 8: S3: The Seeking Information Dimension of Questions Section 4: Practical Application of S4 Questions Chapter 9: Introduction: The Eight Types of S4: Shift Thinking Dimension of Questions Chapter 10: S4: Journey of Inference Questions Chapter 11: S4: Neuro-Linguistic Programming Questions Chapter 12: S4: Distinction and Difference Questions Chapter 13: S4: Reflective Connecting Questions Chapter 14: S4: Cognitive Elements-based Questions Chapter 15: S4: Other People Questions Chapter 16: S4: Underlying Interests Questions Chapter 17: S4: Future Focus Questions Endnotes Index About the Author A Note about the Publisher

Gerry O'Sullivan is an award-winning mediator recognized for her commitment to fostering collaboration and unity in the global mediation community. A trainer and facilitator with over 35 years of experience in conflict resolution, she delivered Mediators' Institute of Ireland (MII) accredited mediation professional development sessions for many years, and holds a Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education. Gerry is the author of the original edition of The Mediator's Toolkit: Formulating and Asking Questions for Successful Outcomes, and conducts in person and online workshops and courses locally and internationally based on her book. She is Director of O'Sullivan Solutions and lives in Maharees, Castlegregory on the southwest coast of Ireland.