Mediation then can be seen as an
opportunity to open a present that until now has been hidden in a very challenging
wrapping.
The principles and method of Authentic
Communication offer a uniquely effective way of uncovering those gifts. It
enables a skillful mediator to cut right through to the chase, help to shift
the view, reach agreement and choose how the parties want to relate in the
future.
I like seeing mediation as a process of
gradual and mutual unveiling of each other’s human face. When we see each
other’s humanity, we recognize ourselves and our natural compassion awakens.
During the mediation, the main focus is to
facilitate a sense of mutual understanding and connection. This connection is
seen as fundamental for finding solutions that work for everybody. Mutual
understanding of what is essential for the other is typically the most
challenging part of the journey. Once both parties trust that the other party
understands them, finding a strategy that attends to all the underlying
motivations becomes a child play.
Even when a solution is not found at times,
a common result of such a process is increased trust between the parties with
enough goodwill created for further exploration of possible solutions in the
future.
