Recently finished my 29th mediation related book in 29 months. Since starting this journey into Mediation, Terri and I keep our brains active by reading and using what we learn. It has taken me years to push through my Dyslexia to enjoy learning again.
Conflict Resilience, was written by two professors from Harvard Law School and Harvard Medical School, Robert C. Bordone and Joel Salinas, M.D. This book is the most current I’ve read, dealing with psychology of negotiation that is directly related to what we are experiencing today in this country.
At a recent Zoom meeting with our core group of mediators one asked if we are seeing an uptick in Civil Discourse mediations. We all said that we were.
Sadly, conflict is getting the better of us in our country.
We work hard to be Peacemakers by sitting down with opposing parties, facilitate dialogue and hopefully reach a settlement that both sides can agree upon. We work with empathy and enderstanding by *listening deeply* to what each side is saying. Most of the time, one or both sides just want to be heard!
We then have the ability to think outside the box, by helping parties discuss how a possible solution might look without having a judge rule for one side or the other.
The judges we work for are pleased when we are able to settle a case with both parties working out their own solution. This allows the parties to negotiate a settlement amount and how and when to pay it off.
Sometimes we don’t settle, or have to declare an impasse. When an impasse occurs, we always ask that both parties try to continue to talk and work out a compromise before the trial date. We have seen this happen and we have been know to reconvene a mediation before the trial date.
A mediation also spares parties the additional expense of going to court and not knowing how a judge will rule.
We are expanding our newish career. Information coming soon!
Stay Tuned!