A Shout Out to Dr Mike Talbot
Founder & CEO UK Mediation
As Martin Luther King said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”. I think this quote was intended for those who find themselves in challenge and controversy ‘unintentionally’. Mike has chosen a career where he 'intentionally' steps into these difficult situations and in so doing, makes the world a better place for us all.
Mike has dedicated his life to guiding people from all walks of life from a place of conflict (with the mental and emotional pain that carries) to a place of clarity, peace and healing. Mike is a kind, compassionate and empathetic human being. His devotion to serving others from a place of integrity, humility and truth has guaranteed his success as UK’s number one Mediator and Mediation Service provider.
In 2014, I had the honour and privilege of training as a Mediator with Mike directly in Gibraltar organised by our Citizens Advice Bureau. ‘Busy’ is an understatement, yet Mike always finds the time to touch base with me any time I have reached out to him since then.
In his earlier years, Mike volunteered in Homeless Shelters and then volunteered as a Community Mediator assisting conflicts in neighbourhoods. He spent 4 years working closely with people with life threatening conditions giving them a voice through alternate means when they were losing their ability to speak. Mike also worked as MD of a computer company specialising in adaptations for blind and partially sighted people. From 1989-1999, Mike devoted his time as a Psychotherapist assessing those suffering psychological injury and in 1999, he founded UK Mediation. He is a facilitator, educator, game changer and he seeks to empower others; working from a place of authenticity and pure intention. In a world where increasingly profit is valued over people, Mike puts people first.
Mike’s unique selling point is that he marries his psychotherapy practice with Mediation in order to provide a more holistic approach to dispute resolution for individuals and organisations. He connects with and understands the mental and emotional pain in the human being who is in conflict. Mike has a natural gift which is to see beyond or behind the ‘masks’ that people wear, to unlock their real fears and unmet human needs and by doing so is disarming ‘opponents’ to a place of compassion, sometimes forgiveness and willingness to make peace.
Bernie Banks said, “the measure of a man is in the lives he’s touched”. From Mike’s decades of service to humanity, I would say that he has touched thousands… not only the lives of those who he has guided towards peaceful resolution, but the lives of all those who were affected by that person being in mental and emotional pain, such as relatives, friends and co-workers in what I call ‘the ripple effect’. Mike’s work and legacy cannot be measured but the man certainly can.