About

Jeanette Bicknell

Like many mediators, I have come into the field after doing something else. I taught philosophy at the university level for about 10 years. My academic specialty was the philosophy of art (especially music) and I taught in a variety of different areas, including ethics and the history of philosophy. But no matter what the specific material I was teaching, I always considered that my primary task was helping others to think clearly. I wanted to help students to formulate clear arguments, no matter what positions they held, and I wanted them to be able to see the flaws in their own and others’ thinking. I felt that, long after they had forgotten the details of the content I presented, they would retain the skills associated with thinking clearly and with understanding different points of view, no matter what their personal opinions.

I continue to be active in academic philosophy and to publish articles and reviews in professional journals. You can find out more about my academic work at www.jeanettebicknell.org.

What I do:

My work as a mediator falls into two main categories:

I provide civil mediation services for lawyers and their clients as an associate with the Sadowski Resolutions Group LLP.  I am on the Attorney General’s roster for the Ontario Mandatory Mediation Program.

With my own company, PDRC - Principled Dispute Resolution and Consulting, I help small businesses, boards and management teams work together effectively and respectfully.  I have seen first-hand the harm that is caused by conflict and incivility in the workplace.  I am passionate about helping to create workplaces where employees can focus on their work without the distraction of dysfunctional personal conflicts, and I am passionate about working with teams and boards so that members can trust one another enough to have constructive disagreements.

When I’m not working or spending time with my family, you are likely to find me at a yoga studio.  (But don’t worry, if you work with me I won’t ask you to sit in a circle and chant, etc.)

About this blog:

I started this blog for a way to let potential clients see something of my personality and my approach.  I chose the name “Thinking about Conflict and Value” because I wanted to give myself as broad a canvas as possible and to be able to write here about many different topics that are important to me.  “Conflict” is what mediators spend most of our time thinking about, working through, and trying to resolve.  “Value” refers both to moral values and to aesthetic or artistic values.  I write on a wide variety of topics, including best practices in mediation, ethical and legal issues in the arts, workplace conflict, business ethics, and the ethics of everyday life.  You may also find the occasional book review.  I hope you find something that interests you.