I look upon supposedly difficult conversations as an opportunity to have a fruitful exchange.

“John showed his mettle as a negotiator and dispute resolver. Quietly and calmly, he dealt with all the issues and they went away without recourse to tribunals and litigation.”  

I step towards disputes rather than run away from them. Most mediations will take no more than one day, and matters, which have been dragging on for months if not longer, will be swiftly concluded.

Occasionally the issues are so fundamental that they can take many months to resolve. A recent investigation demanded time because of the complex issues involved, the sheer amount of material and referrals to the regulator.

I tell it like it is and allow those involved to walk away with their heads held high. Often the way forward is obvious to all but those directly involved and it’s a matter of getting them to the point where they can recognise the solution. I helped two co-founders of what is now a multimillion-dollar business recognise that one of them needed to step away from the business so it could succeed.

“John was authoritative but kept a sense of proportion and calmed an explosive, emotional situation.”

Those involved have often commented on my empathy and compassion, typically when they feel they are being properly heard and respected.

“He is a highly effective communicator and has strong inter-personal skills. He cares and is thoughtful”

Sometimes the solution takes people by surprise when, for example, two directors in a financial services institution discovered they could indeed work together after many months of fierce public exchanges, including allegations of professional incompetence. In the final meeting, I was almost invisible, such was their enthusiasm for working together on a project that was key to the institution’s success.