Conclusion
At first blush, it may seem a relatively easy task to interview mediators to learn from them, to generate knowledge, and to capture lessons learned. During media interviews, mediators may worry that they will be lured into disclosing an entertaining but politically sensitive anecdote; and during donor interviews, mediators may be apprehensive in case something they say endangers continued funding. But in the kind of interview that is the subject of this handbook, the mediator is likely to be happy to tell his or her story and the interviewer to be happy to listen and learn. Indeed, in almost all cases, the atmosphere during such interviews is comfortable for both participants.
On closer examination, however, learning from mediators is not so straightforward. The conversation is much more than a fireside chat. Questions of mandate, confidentiality, and the purpose of the interview must be clarified before beginning. The interviewer has to be well prepared and must strike a delicate balance between having a clear idea of the key questions to ask, on the one hand, and, on the other hand, being flexible and open to discover unexpected insights. The interviewer guides the mediator, but the mediator also guides the interviewer. Once the interview is finished, the work continues. Value is created by analyzing and structuring the material from the interview. One has to check what one has written with the mediator. Furthermore, once various cases have been analyzed on an individual basis, comparative analysis is important to identify those aspects that are unique and those that are generic. Finally, the mediation knowledge created has to be passed on in learning environments (workshops, seminars, and so forth) as a first step to getting the lessons translated back into real-life practice.
Setting up a mediation knowledge management system is a long-term investment in increasing the quality of mediation practice. Debriefing mediators (especially mid-level mediators) can also lead to a more realistic view of mediation. The iconic handshake between p<