From the desk of My Collaborative Team President, Edward S. Sachs, ACP
Last week, my blog raised the question of how to educate the skeptical professionals that we encounter. One tactic many agreed on is inviting the skeptic to be an observer at a Collaborative team meeting. This tactic has proven to be a great way to achieve that goal.
At Friday’s Virtual Happy Hour we continued this discussion with professionals from across North America. It was decided that we should put together a list of typical objections that Collaborative Professionals hear from skeptical professionals, plus examples of responses that have elicited a positive response from the skeptics.
I am asking all of you readers to please share the objections to the Collaborative Process that you have encountered, plus the responses you provided to those criticisms. My Collaborative Team will compile and publish a “cheat sheet” for all of our readers to use in our interactions with skeptics!
I’m a former custody evaluator and often try to recruit litigating family law attorneys to Collaborative Practice. Some decline saying they enjoy litigation, and I don’t have a good response for that.
Often I hear that they object to the withdrawal clause adding that they think it’s unethical. I respond by asking how is this different from a withdrawal for lack of payment? Wouldn’t it be appropriate if your contract describes the terms of working together and each having the option of withdrawing if it’s not working?
This is met by pensive thoughts and then I have my foot in the door to talk about the satisfaction of helping a couple stay out of court and making their own decisions for their family. I also add that the value to the children is endless, protecting them from conflict and preserving a co-parenting relationship that helps the children view their parents as a reliable team.