How do you update your skills and knowledge as a tenant mediator?

1 Join a professional association

One of the best ways to update your skills and knowledge as a tenant mediator is to join a professional association that provides training, resources and networking opportunities. For example, the National Association for Community Mediation (NAFCM) offers online courses, webinars, podcasts, newsletters and a directory of local mediation centers. You can also join regional or state-level associations that cater to your specific area of practice and jurisdiction.

2 Read relevant books and articles

Updating your skills and knowledge as a tenant mediator is important, and reading relevant books and articles can help. These resources can cover topics such as landlord-tenant law, communication skills, conflict resolution, cultural diversity, ethics and more. To get started, consider checking out the following: "The Landlord-Tenant Mediation Handbook" by John Bickerman and Lisa Bingham, "Mediating Landlord-Tenant Disputes: A Guide for Housing Mediators" by Robert Rubinson, "The Mediator's Handbook" by Jennifer Beer and Caroline Packard, "How to Mediate Like a Pro: 42 Rules for Mediating Disputes" by Mary Greenwood, or "Landlord-Tenant Mediation: A Study of Factors that Enhance Successful Outcomes" by Steven K. Berenson.

3 Attend workshops and conferences

Updating your skills and knowledge as a tenant mediator can be done by attending workshops and conferences that offer practical skills, insights and feedback from experts and peers. These events can help you learn new techniques, strategies and tools for tenant mediation, as well as provide exposure to different perspectives, challenges and solutions. Additionally, you have the opportunity to network with other tenant mediators, exchange ideas and build relationships. Examples of workshops and conferences that may be beneficial to attend include the Annual Conference of the Association for Conflict Resolution (ACR), the National Conference on Dialogue and Deliberation (NCDD), the International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education (CRE), the Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders (MSTI) and the Basic Mediation Training by the Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC).

4 Seek feedback and mentoring

As a tenant mediator, you can update your skills and knowledge by seeking feedback and mentoring from more experienced or qualified mediators. This can help you identify areas for improvement, as well as learn from the experiences and advice of others. To get feedback and mentoring, you can reach out to your supervisor, co-mediators and clients.

5 Practice and reflect

As a tenant mediator, you can update your skills and knowledge by practicing and reflecting on your own tenant mediation cases. This helps to apply what you have learned, test assumptions and evaluate outcomes. To do this, you should prepare thoroughly for each case, researching the facts, the law and the parties' interests and needs. During sessions, conduct them with professionalism, respect and empathy while following the mediation process and principles. After each session, debrief by reviewing what went well and what could be improved, as well as document the results and agreements. Additionally, seek feedback from the parties, co-mediators or observers and incorporate it into your practice. Finally, keep a journal or portfolio of your tenant mediation cases to reflect on your learning and growth.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?