Written by My Collaborative Team President, Edward S. Sachs, ACP

Being honest in our own reflection can often be a challenge. As Lynard Skynard once famously sang, “Does your conscience bother you? Tell the truth.” As Collaborative Professionals it is imperative that we take the time needed to reflect on the cases we have had. What were the successes you had as a team or an individual in the case? What are some of the difficulties you may have had to overcome either as a team or an individual?

After each case, successful or failed, it is critical for the professional team to debrief and discuss what went right and what went wrong.  Having the difficult conversations is never a fun thing to do, but these difficult conversations help us build stronger teams, become more competent professionals and overall better people. As trained Collaborative Professionals we all have learned skills needed to handle disputes in a mature manner, sometimes we just utilize more within our own professional teams.

IACP Ethical Standards 3.4 states that each professional has the responsibility, individually and as a team, to manage the Process effectively, efficiently and in a manner that advances the clients’ common goal of reaching resolution.  The standard places an obligation on professionals to inform each other of facts and circumstances that are likely to impair or improve the Process.  We are required to monitor the efforts of the professional team members and examine the impact of our conduct on the Process.

It isn’t always easy to accept criticism.  But the Collaborative Process demands that we reflect on ourselves and each other to better ourselves and provide a greater opportunity for success in the Process.