Written by Kevin R. Scudder, Seattle, WA
Since “Coming Home” to Collaborative Practice when I took my introductory training in 2008, I have come to recognize that every case, every day, every moment, presents us an opportunity to understand the work we do at a deeper level. From the Inside - Out.
The Collaborative Way to Divorce, written by Stu Webb and Ron Ousky in 2006, is “only” 16 years old and continues to provide guidance to all of us. Take a moment and consider for yourself what this book and the mentoring from Stu, Ron and others has meant to you and those in your Collaborative Community.
That is what I have done recently, remembering the 25th Anniversary Celebration at the Chicago Forum where we had the fun, and pleasure, of Stu’s presentation on:
Did you know that Stu is an aspiring jazz saxophonist? One might think that Stu would say that practice makes perfect. Being a Buddhist however, Stu groks that perfection is just an illusion and when you think you “got it”, your hand is empty. A perfect metaphor for Collaborative Practice.
While I would like to hear Ron sing the 30 songs, word for word, that he references in his post, it is the feeling inside of Ron that gives context and depth to the real meaning of the influence of a person on our lives.
Jazz and Writing. They are both a form of deep, intimate expression and I grok the connection between these art forms and the work we do, inside – out, as Collaborative Practitioners.
Borrowing from the Stanford Jazz Workshop website, I think the connection feels and looks like this:
MISSION: To educate, entertain, and inspire a community of Collaborative Professionals and clients through the study, performance, and appreciation of Collaborative Practice, an original consensual dispute resolution form.
VISION: To positively change lives through individual creative expression within a Collaborative Community that celebrates and perpetuates a Collaborative approach to dispute resolution.
VALUES: Creativity
Collaborative Practice, as a dispute resolution form, values creative expression with the knowledge that individual creative expression operates within the context of a Community of Collaborators whose expressions co-create a whole that is greater than the sum of its individual parts. We also value creativity within the context of the Collaborative tradition itself, which we celebrate even as it is transformed.
Diversity and inclusiveness
Part of the richness of the Collaborative tradition is that it is diverse. We strive for inclusiveness across styles, generations, ethnicities, backgrounds, and genders. People of all ages from around the globe value and appreciate Collaborative Practice.
Collaboration
Successful Collaboration requires valuing working together and an investment in the group process as well as its individual contributions. This is true both in each and every relationship involved in Collaborative Practice and within the work life of the organization itself.
Respect
Successful Collaboration, especially within Collaborative improvisation, requires respect for others. This kind of respect requires careful listening / curiosity and is likewise valued throughout the organization.
Practice
Not just practice on one’s individual “instrument”, but the continual improvement in all aspects of our organization, by doing it over and over until we get it right.
Creativity from the inside – out. It is uncanny, really, how aligned Jazz and writing are to Collaborative Practice.
Both are truly from the “inside – out” and when practiced that way the result is something that touches us at a very deep level.
I think we try really hard to be good at what we do. We read books. We attend trainings. We watch webinars. We attend the Forum.
When it comes down to it, however, and we are in a situation with our client or another professional and some action is needed, do we reach out to something external, or look inside? Externally, we may try to remember what they taught us at the last training or what that book said. More likely than not, however, while the external source may be helpful, it is likely not to be “in-tune” with what is happening in the room.
Consider John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things”. Yes, there is sheet music and notes and stanzas that guide the way. What happens, however, when on a whim the music takes a turn? If you stay with your sheet music the song becomes uncomfortable and difficult to listen to.
Collaborative Practice is the same way. We can stick to the “sheet music” and apply our Collaborative tools in the scripted manner we were taught. When that is all we do, however, by sticking to our external learning we miss the turn in the river and the process becomes, like a warped record, discordant.
Rather than practicing “outside – in”, Collaborative Practice works oh so much better when it is practiced “inside – out”.
Can you say you grok this? Perhaps go home and put on some Jazz or sit with a good piece of writing and see if it comes to you.
Kevin R. Scudder is a Collaborative Attorney, Mediator, Writer, Trainer, and inspiration behind the Seattle Collaborative Law Center, PLLC based in Seattle, WA. He is a Board Member of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP; www.collaborativepractice.com), regular contributor to the Collaborative literary community [http://www.be.fulfilled.org/ and http://theworldofcollaborativepractice.com/], and Past President of Washington State’s state- wide Collaborative organization, the Collaborative Professionals of Washington.
Most recently Kevin is a contributing author to the book issued by the American Bar Association co-edited by Adam Cordover and Forrest “Woody” Mosten on developing a satisfying and profitable peacemaking practice.
Kevin can be reached at kevin@seattleclc.com or through his Seattle Collaborative Law Center, PLLC website at https://www.seattleclc.com/.
