Mediation
Mediation is generally a cheaper, quicker and more bearable way of solving disputes. It involves a third party enabling the disputants to reach an agreement on their difference(s). This may be about compromise but it is more about understanding different views and reaching a common understanding of the best way forward.
Trained mediators should be able to maintain negotiations in a way that prevents one party dominating,discussions or bullying the other into agreement. He/she should also be able to maintain any joint discussions in ways that prevent unacceptable forms of talk or action. Mediation should be a safe environment for the combatants.
Different approaches to mediation
There are a bewildering array of different styles of mediation. Mediators usually
specialise in one particular style. These can be boiled down to two basic types and
a hybrid:-
1. Problem centred approach.
This approach, as its name implies, seeks to solve a particular problem. Many legal firms use this approach in disputes that have a financial element. Sometimes the mediator is a conciliator, meeting with each combatant in turn and guiding them towards an agreeable solution. In some cases the parties may never actually meet and discuss this problem!
The approach is particularly suitable where the parties are not required to have any further interaction when the problem has been ‘solved’.
2. Transformative Mediation
This form of mediation is fundamentally different. Some mediators even argue that it is inappropriate to be called mediation! It enables the combatants, or clients, to direct how the mediation should proceed. The mediator is a kind of referee, seeking to maintain fairness and clarity in the discussions. Most importantly this approach seeks to bring the parties together. at the earliest opportunity and provides a means of each individual being able to express their concerns and listen to the other(s).
Transformative Mediation is particularly useful when the parties need to have an
ongoing relationship since it enables better dialogue and co-
3. Transformation Mediation
There is a hybrid of these two approaches which is called Transformation Mediation. Usually the mediators seek to be directive but use the process, which includes the parties meeting together, to bring harmony to the relationships.
Harmonyic and Mediation
Harmonyic offers a confidential mediation service to clients. It specialises in conflict within organisations or all sorts and sizes. While it will seek to help individuals (eg neighbours), this is not its core interest.
Originally we started out working with churches experiencing conflict and used the Transformation approach. We are now offering the Transformative approach to clients as we believe this may be more useful to them.
There is more about Harmonyic and our charges on our ‘Other Information’ page.
There is a useful leaflet on Mediation that you can downloaded to show to colleagues.
A short introduction to conflict and its resolution is available for download