Key Tips when Preparing for Mediation
You get out of Mediation what you put into it.
Responsibility of each party
The responsibility of each party during mediation is to listen and seek understanding of each other’s perspectives, share information, be curious and ask questions, engage in discussion, clarify assumptions, and move respectfully forward to resolution. It is important that everyone be open, fully honest, and engaged.
Key Tips when Preparing for Mediation
Mediation is a meeting and an opportunity for parties in dispute to discuss the situation and create change and resolution. However, you get out of it what you put into it. To feel that a mediation meeting has been a success, it is important to consider what you need to say, hear, and discuss. Here are some points to reflect on:
Enter mediation with an open mind. This will allow you to consider different perspectives and potential solutions you may not have thought of. This may lead to creative compromises and mutually beneficial agreement.
What is it that you want and why? Identify and clearly communicate your main concerns, needs, and goals. Ensure that the other party understands what is most important to you.
- This helps focus the discussion on your core needs and what you will and will not compromise on.
Be prepared to talk. Prepare to explain your point of view of the issues so the other party knows your perspective and where you are coming from.
- Determine what information you need to know or share to help resolve the situation and what will be the most difficult for you to talk about, and how will you prepare for it.
- What do you want to say to each of the parties (respectfully)?
- What is it that you want to know from or ask each of the parties?
- What should the other parties know from or about you?
- Identify possible solutions or compromises that you believe could work for both parties and be prepared to talk about them.
Be prepared to have respectful discussions. Respectful conversations are crucial in mediation.
- Even when disagreements arise, addressing them calmly and without hostility can prevent escalation and keep the process constructive.
- Prepare to hear the other party’s reasoning and constraints. This will help you see the bigger picture and foster mutual understanding.
- Prepare to address the underlying issues—the real issues—rather than surface level problems and discuss common goals and interests and next steps needed for resolution and solutions.
Stay Calm and Focused. Emotions can run high during mediation, but staying calm and focused helps you think more clearly and make better decisions. It also sets a positive tone, encouraging cooperation and a smoother resolution process.
Be curious and ask questions. Thoughtful questions can help clarify misunderstandings, reveal underlying issues, and guide the conversation towards productive outcomes. It also fosters better communication and helps you gain deeper understanding of the other party’s perspective.
- Prepare a list of questions you want to ask the other parties.
- Be ready to answer any potential questions the other party may ask you.
Additional Tips
Prepare for Difficult Conversations: Consider what might be challenging to say or hear, and plan how to address these respectfully.
Manage Triggers: Identify your triggers and think about what might help you remain calm. Staying calm is essential for understanding, thinking clearly, and making good decisions.
Be Committed to the Process: Reflect on your commitment to understanding the perspectives of others and working towards resolution.
Determine what do you need for the meeting to be a success? What do you need to say, hear, or talk about for you to feel the meeting has been a success?
By focusing on these areas, you can increase the chances of a successful mediation and a satisfactory outcome for all parties involved.