What is Mediation?
Just what is Mediation? Mediation, as defined by the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission “A voluntary settlement process to help you resolve disputes. Mediation is an informal process where a mediator helps people with a dispute to reach agreement. The mediation process identifies important issues, clarifies misunderstandings, explores solutions, and negotiates settlement. “
Mediation can be used at any time during, before and after litigation has occurred, although the majority of mediations occur prior to litigation. Mediation allows the parties to come to an agreement in their dispute rather than taking it to a third party, such as a judge.
You probably mediate every day and don’t realize it. You mediate when a co-worker comes to you with a gripe about another co-worker and you play devil’s advocate or help them see the other side, or when your spouse and child can’t agree on where to go out for dinner. Mediation is about helping people come to a resolution. Consider it bridge building. Mediation can be used to settle a dispute between members in a home owner association, between a hospital and a patient, a company and an employee, or many other situations.
I’d love to hear how you define mediation.
Thanks for reading!
Donita
www.iMediateIT.com