Many different opinions were shared in the countdown to the sub two-hour marathon, mostly focusing on the possibilities and impossibilities of meeting the challenge.
Although the responsibility of breaking the record lay with one individual, he had a team of experienced and talented athletes who provided both challenge and encouragement to ensure the particular standards were maintained. While Eliud Kipchoge crossed the finish line alone, he immediately acknowledged the effort of the whole team in contributing to that success. An outstanding giant recognised the role that fellow stellar athletes played in helping him achieve the extraordinary feat.
Mediators work with different sets of pacesetters. There are mediators who serve as mentors and coaches to mediators in the profession, holding their hands and encouraging them to step out. They help them gain confidence in handling different matters on their own. Other mediators critically review long standing practices and explore new methods, engaging peers in debates and discussions on how to improve the profession. Finally, there are those in the mediation teams that are often unseen yet help ensure that everything goes well. They assist with paperwork, bookings and confirmations making it more comfortable for both mediators and the parties.
Successful mediation is more than just helping parties arrive at agreements in their disputes. It is also about being a contributor to the body of knowledge in mediation and serving as an example to the community of mediators. The practice of mediation would benefit greatly as mediators share their experiences and knowledge while encouraging and challenging each other because pacesetters help open up new possibilities.
Congratulations Eliud Kipchoge and team! No mediator is limited!
This article originally appeared in the April 1997 issue of Consensus, a newspaper published jointly by the Consensus Building Institute and the MIT-Harvard Public Disputes Program. Special Excerpt The following...
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