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Mediation. A Tool for Settling Conflicts. Mediation Defined…. Mediation is a process in which individuals talk through their differences with the help of a neutral third party and reach a mutually-agreed upon resolution
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Mediation A Tool for Settling Conflicts
Mediation Defined… • Mediation is a process in which individuals talk through their differences with the help of a neutral third party and reach a mutually-agreed upon resolution • It can be superior to other conflict resolution methods because the individuals create their own solutions and have more investment in the resolution
Your Role as a Mediator… • Part of the Resident Assistant’s job is to try to assist students in a process known as mediation. An RA tries to assist people in expressing their views and listening to one another in hopes of finding common ground to achieve a solution.
The Roadmap to Mediation • Break the issues down into smaller parts; isolate the pressing issues causing conflict • Change the subject, set aside the problem, and go on to other issues. • Take a break. Explore hidden agendas and willingness to compromise. Schedule another meeting, consider changing the location, any break will help!
The Roadmap to Mediation • Express how you feel. Remind people of the agreement to work towards a solution • Agree on and explore common interests • Review the party’s stated priorities and common interests • Recap to determine if change or agreement is really possible • Try to obtain agreement on what the parties originally expected the solution would be
The Roadmap to Mediation • Ask a hypothetical “What if?” Structure it carefully and don’t ask it too early or you may be pressed for concessions! • Ask the parties to indicate what would change or happen if they reached a solution • If they have a prior relationship, reference their history together • Ask for their ideas • Discuss the remaining alternatives. There are always some!
The Roadmap to Mediation • Create a minute or two of silence for the parties to think about things • Make strategic disclosures that can benefit the parties involved. This may come from information shared individually or in meetings together • Test for emotional investment in a given result by asking the parties what it would take to get the parties to move to another solution
The Roadmap to Mediation • Ask the parties why the think an alternative is unacceptable…then look for narrow solutions specific to the reasons they give • Ask more questions about the problem, about feelings, priorities, alternative solutions, flexibility, hidden agendas, reluctance to compromise, anger at one another, etc. • Compliment the parties on reaching earlier points of agreement and being willing to compromise, encouraging them to reach a complete agreement and put the issues behind them
The Roadmap to Mediation • Not all mediations will end in the roommate pair agreeing. Remind the parties what will happen if they do not work through things – what each stands to lose. Are there any negative results for not negotiating or compromising? • As a last resort, tell the parties which alternative you believe is fair and why
Something to Think About… • It may be a good idea to write down the agreement between the two parties and have them sign the agreement (see next slide for Roommate Mediation Form). • This will help you if there are future issues between the two parties! • Document, Document, Document! Even if it is a small conversation/mediation, keep track of what is happening between your residents. Follow up is key!
Dropbox Assignment Time!!! • This is the end of the MEDIATION module. Please complete the dropbox assignment!