A Heads Up!

Tomorrow the covers come off the final shape of IMI's Global Competency Scheme for mediators and I will post here just as soon as they do.

The big Q is: whether becoming 'IMI Certified' will prove to be the gold standard for commercial mediators worldwide or will we be content to rely on local, ad hoc (or in some cases, no) accreditation/certification standards.

The obvious A is: to a large extent, that will depend on what our (repeat user) consumers require of us and how many times we are asked 'are you IMI Certified?' when we are one of 3 up for the job. If our own market don't care, my bet is neither will we.

But there is a BUT: this should not be like pulling teeth - what's the down side of becoming IMI Certified? Certainly not cost as that looks like that will be nominal.

Why not be assessed under test conditions - you can only benefit from that experience (it looks like assessment at a simulated mediation will be part of the process) and why not be part of a worldwide standard?

And why wouldn't you want exposure to a global user base via IMI's searchable website? Maybe, just maybe, the parties are looking for that special mediator from Boise, Idaho.

Readers may recall my previous posts tracking the progress of this ambitious and controversial global project;

May 07 - First International Competency Certification for Mediators Launches Consultation Period
Sept 07 - International Mediator Certification
April 08 - Michael Leathes of the International Mediation Institute and Michael Leathes of the International Mediation Institute #2
May 08 - Delegates at AAA Annual Meeting use electronic voting to express their views on mediator competency certification
June 08 - The gathering pace of mediator feedback online

Disclosure: Geoff Sharp is a member of IMI's Independent Standards Commission