ACR’s Updated Guidance for Physically Safe Conflict Resolution
- Stephen Kotev
- Jul 14
- 2 min read
Over ten years ago, a headline shook me.
A double murder/suicide that took place after a mediation in Phoenix.
I grew up on Phoenix and have spent decades dedicated to the practice and field of Conflict Resolution.
I've also spent decades studying Aikido and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
The only advice that I was ever given about physical safety during my mediation training, was to 'sit by the door...'
I felt that advice was grossly unfair and lacking and I felt obligated to do something about it.
I felt that I had a good sense of what Safety professionals would say and what Conflict Resolution practitioners would need to navigate.
So, I initiated and chaired a Association for Conflict Resolution Taskforce on Safety that was dedicated to addressing this gap in the field.
I reached out to active duty and retired FBI crisis negotiators, a presiding State Trial Judge, a Domestic Relations and Juvenile Court Administrator, policy experts and Community Mediator Coordinators for support.
Together we embarked on something that hadn't been done before.
Drafting a Recommended Guidance on Physical Safety for the Field of Conflict Resolution.
It was a difficult endeavor.
The inherent mindset of a Safety Professional is not 'if' something will go wrong, but 'when will it go wrong...'
Paired with Conflict Resolution Practitioners who inherently believe in the 'better angels' of others and the inherent good within Humanity.
It's incredibly difficult to navigate this polarity and not succumb to the typical 'either/or' thinking that traps most of us when we try to address these issues.
We can't fall into the trap of hypervigilance - nor can we be completely trusting.
We had to find a way to allow for - and honor - both.
After countless hours that included a prelminary survey of reported incidents of violence pre-and-post session, current best practice recommendations, and numerous other considerations.
Something started to coalesce.
In, October of 2014 this Recommended Guidance on Safety was adopted by the Association for Conflict Resolution and made available as a public resource.
As, our community utilized this guidance we learned that, as with anything, it could be improved.
So, now after 10 years of feedback and learning - it has.
The new updated version was adopted by ACR in March of this year and is now available to the public here:
It now incorporates insights on how to better manage your safety instincts that allow for more intentional and bias-resistant approaches that encourage uniform and equilateral responses for all participants.
This afternoon I'll be presenting a 90 minute webinar that goes into further detail and I hope you'll join me!:
As Conflict Resolution Practitioners, we can't hide from these issues - nor can we allow ourselves to overcorrect and create environments so restricted that it hampers our efforts.
It's a worthwhile endeavor and I hope you'll join us on July 14th from 1 to 2:30 pm EST to learn more!
Comments