Conflict Resolution & Insight Mediation
This holistic style of mediation helps parties make sense of the conflict they are experiencing by asking ‘curious’ questions and providing a structure for dialogue. Insight Mediators help people to understand behaviours in conflict settings and how their interpretation and response to its perceived meaning may be seen as threatening. Mediation provides a vehicle to have difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, and regain calm in your surroundings and life.
Conflict is a normal part of living and interacting with others. From kindergarten to the boardroom, we share resources and interact with others. Whenever we bump into each other, there is the potential for misunderstanding, poor communication and inaccurate interpretation.
Over 80% of what we communicate is through body language, facial expression and tone. It is not always what we say but how we say it that implies meaning. We also interpret the incoming signals through our own systems and lived experiences: cultural, gender, social, religious, personal and familial. With all of these layers, it is amazing that we understand each other at all!
Conflict is an opportunity to learn more about what matters deeply to you and what may be threatening your perspectives. Mediation is a way of learning various techniques to improve communication and to learn from and reduce conflict in our lives.
What is Good About Conflict?
Insight Mediation allows us to look at conflict as an opportunity for growth. By encouraging curiosity and re-interpretation, the focus moves away from problem solving to a transformative, new narrative on the conflict at hand.
- If I were smarter, conflict wouldn't happen to me.
- I am not affected by conflict in my personal life and my personal situation does not affect me work.
- Economic and environmental stresses don't impact my interactions with others.
- My ongoing health condition doesn't impact my interactions with others.
- Taking care of my aging parents' medications and third-party care does not worry me.
- I'm not linking past experiences to this confict situation.
- How I relate to my boss (employees), life partner and children isn't influenced by my beliefs.
- My neighbour will move the air conditioner to the other side of the house so I can sleep.
- If I do not show my anger, it won't affect me - choking it back is the right thing to do.
- Life's little frustrations do not affect my health.
- Waiting in lines doesn't cause me stress.
- Communicating by email is more effective. Not having to meet face to face is a better way to communicate.
- I can avoid conflict. Yes you can - but at what cost?
Selecting the Right Mediator
With an abundance of wide ranging services available in this still-emerging field, selecting the right mediator can be difficult. Mediators have very different training, skills and backgrounds so it is important to make sure that the mediator you select will be right for your needs and organization.
I take great care to clarify the issue(s) and to be present to each person involved in the conflict. Pre-mediation conversations determine whether the situation is appropriate for mediation and whether parties are willing to engage in this type of facilitated conversation.
Whether in your personal life or business, conflict avoidance can seriously deplete your energy, health, happiness and productivity.
Types of Mediation & Services
- Conflict Assessment
- Conflict Coaching
- Boss Whispering
- Facilitating Difficult Conversations
- Mediation for One
- Family Situations
- Workplace Disputes
- Church & Volunteer Situations
- Elder Care & Third Party Care Issues
- Community & Neighbourhood Situations
- Group Facilitation