What is mediation?
Mediation is a flexible and confidential process used to settle a dispute between people, businesses or other organisations.
A mediator is an independent and impartial person, to help both parties talk through the issues and come to a mutually agreeable solution, as an alternative to taking legal action.
How does it work on the day?
1. Welcome
Whether online or in person, I will welcome you into a private room and go over how the mediation will run. I will check with you that you are ready to go into a joint session with the other participant(s).
2. Introductions and structure
I will go through some important points to remember to ensure our time goes smoothly and everyone is clear on what the expectations are for the sessions. You will be in the room with the other participant(s) at this time.
3. Opportunity to share your position with the other participant(s)
I will ask each participant to give an overview of their view of the situation from their perspective. At this time, I will ensure the other participant(s) listen respectfully. Everyone in the room will have a chance to share their point of view.
4. Individual sessions
Once we have heard from all the participants in the room and there is no progress to be made together, we will break into individual rooms and I will spend time with one and then the other, asking questions, exploring options, challenging assumptions and assessing alternatives. I will only ever pass information or offers to the other participants with full permission from you. If you do not give permission to share anything, everything that is said in your private room remains confidential.
I will move between the private rooms and have similar discussions with each participant, hopefully moving towards areas of shared value and agreement over time. The majority of the time will be spent in individual sessions.
From time to time, we may move back into an open session together to discuss details if appropriate and agreed by all participants.
5. Resolution
I will continue to move between rooms, perhaps passing offers or information to help move the process forwards, until the participants either reach an agreement or run out of time. If you reach a resolution I will stay with you whilst the details are agreed, dated and signed.