Introduction

In the case of conflict between an ICMTA member and another, the ICMTA may be of help. We request that you first attempt to resolve the situation directly by accessing your own networks and resources. We appreciate that language and cultural differences often mean that issues are best dealt with locally if at all possible.

If the issue is still not resolved, you can reach out to the ICMTA by submitting the ICMTA Witnessing & Mediation Service Application Form. Please see the Steps To Follow section, below.

What Is Conflict?

Conflict is challenging for most of us. Often conflict has been badly modelled in our families and we fear the consequences. At the same time, we tend to hold on tightly to the ‘justified rightness’ of our own perspective and feel offended / insulted by the other. Clearly it is tricky when both parties in a conflict are doing this!

Conflict, just like our dance practice, holds a great creative potential for us to learn to include a fuller and more compassionate viewpoint. Most conflicts are presented as having just two sides, a pro and a con. However, there is always a third perspective from which the truth of each competing point of view can be appreciated.

Most conflicts involve a degree of reactivity and both parties being entrenched in their own view / perspective on the issue. For both, there are often unspoken needs and fears underneath the presenting perspective. It can help enormously to hear each other more fully and to practice including each other's perspectives, needs and vulnerabilities in the same way as we intend to do on the dance-floor.

Steps To Follow

1. Use your practice(s). 
   Dance with the issue. Meditate with it. Take it for a walk in nature. 
2. Make reasonable attempts to resolve the situation directly by accessing your own networks and resources
3. ICMTA Witnessing
4. Mediation
   

N.B. Witnessing is not available for an issue involving a student, but it is an essential step in any issue between teachers or organisations.

1. First Step - Accessing Your Own Networks And Resources

As your first step, here are some things we suggest you try:

a. speak directly to the person involved to try to find solutions, possibly using one of these resources

b. seek support from friends, peers, other teachers, your school or the school of the teacher involved

c. for teachers, we suggest that it’s appropriate to seek supervision/mentoring

If none of these suggestions are successful, the ICMTA may be of help with either witnessing and/or referral to mediation.

2. ICMTA Witnessing

This support is available upon receipt of the application form.

What is the Witnessing Service?

A small group of people in ICMTA have been trained to offer a structured Witnessing Process.  One of the group would be your Witness.
The Witness normally offers one solo session to each party in the conflict, supporting self-awareness and clarity.  These solo sessions prepare both parties for the joint meeting.

This structured process slows communication down, to ensure that there is more possibility of everyone feeling seen and heard. 

How can Witnessing support a conflict?

‘Deep witnessing and listening can relieve suffering in ourselves and another’ - Thich Nhat Hanh

Having a Witness as a third person in a conflict can enable the emergence of a third more inclusive perspective, allowing reactivity to soften and supporting a way through the two conflicting perspectives that embraces both people’s needs. Research into conflict management carried out by the ICMTA Ethics working group in 2015/2016 indicated that participants would have appreciated having a neutral third party during their conflicts, and that this may have prevented the conflict from escalating.

Witnessing offers a level of support that often allows creative solutions to a conflict to emerge. This hopefully brings a good enough resolution and avoids the more expensive option of involving a professional mediator.

The Witnesses are ICMTA members who act as an objective support. This process is intended to support both parties to heal the space between them, as much as is possible.

An ICMTA Witness will support a conflict by:

• Maintaining a space of listening, curiosity, spaciousness and ease around the conflict.
• Encouraging the two parties to talk through their differences respectfully such that each expands beyond their own reactive position, allowing shared interests and commonality to emerge beyond difference.
• Holding a space that naturally invites self-reflection, courage and the willingness to be vulnerable.
• Holding an understanding of the transformative power of conflict to deepen our understanding of ourselves, each other and our communities.

The procedure for witnessing:

Please complete the ICMTA Witnessing & Mediation Service Application Form online.

Upon receipt of your application form, one of the members of the Witnessing Group will contact you to set up meeting times. Probably the sessions will take place on Zoom.)  

3. Mediation

If the Witnessing Service does not resolve your issue, (or isn’t appropriate for your issue) we will support you to find a mediator.

It is up to you to contact a mediator and set up a meeting time either in person, or by phone, Zoom etc.