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Co-Mediation – Working in partnership: the benefits of co-mediation
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Understanding the Emotions of Dispute Resolution
Mediation can be an emotion-packed event for all participants involved (hopefully not the mediator!). As a mediator, I am between two or more participants, usually experienced business people, often parents, and yet they are behaving like “kids in the playground”: each dedicated to proving they are “right”. In an emotional battlefield, I am the referee, counsellor and facilitator. It’s a challenge.
Qualities of a Good Mediator
When trying to select the right mediator for your dispute, it can be difficult to decide. What should you look for? How can you determine the mediator’s reputation and history of success? Often, a good mediation result lies in the personal qualities of the mediator.
The Role of the Mediator
Mediators are experts in many things: listening, easing tensions, reconciliation, and communication. The mediator must be a paragon of objectivity and impartiality. While he or she may ultimately have an opinion with regard to the merits of each side’s case, the mediator must approach those opinions with the utmost objectivity and recognise that both sides of the matter have merit for the individuals involved.