http://www.facebook.com/pages/CFR-Mediation/271140287576
Mediation is the most efficient method of conflict resolution for most any conflict. As long as those in dispute, whether individuals or organizations, are willing to participate, a neutral mediator can assist the parties in conflict quickly reach a binding resolution that meets everybody’s needs and wants as much as possible – and one with which everyone is in agreement.
Although there is no absolute number of hours or time frames prescribed for the mediation of specific conflicts, most cases – even contentious divorce and child custody cases – are resolved within a number of hours. Mediation occurs in an informal, neutral environment in the form of a single or series of sessions (meetings). The sessions may be shorter 2 or 3-hour meetings spread out over a matter of weeks, or they may be more intensive longer sessions that resolve the issue in a single session. The scheduling and design of the sessions entirely depends on the nature of the dispute and needs of those in conflict – not the mediator.
In all cases, participating in mediation to resolve a dispute should be a relatively brief targeted experience as opposed to a long drawn out regularly scheduled encounter. If those in dispute are not able to resolve the issues in dispute in a handful of sessions, are things really going to change in future ones? If the mediation is allowed to continue week after week, discussions focusing on the same points of conflict session after session – are the parties really working towards resolution or are they just trying to wear one another out?
There is no secret to the efficient nature of mediation: the process focuses on the areas of agreement and builds on them. The mediator serves as a facilitator in the process and, since they have no vested interest in the outcome, is able to overcome much of the mistrust experienced by the disputants. Those in dispute remain in control of the process and the outcome.
In the event that focused mediation sessions are not able to resolve the particulars of a conflict, the case can continue into litigation without either party having lost anything by trying to mediate first.
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Additional Reading:
- Accessing Mediation Services
- Mediating Family Business Disputes
- Who Wins? Outcomes in Mediation
- Divorcing Couples Should First Try To Mediate
- Civil & Business Dispute Resolution Services
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Tags: cost, how long will it take, mediate, Mediation, process, resolution, session, time
