Today I found this question posted on the Internet:
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How are negotiation and mediation alike?
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Here is my answer.
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In a sense, mediation is an assisted negotiation, where a neutral mediator helps two parties:
- Identify and prioritize what they want;
- Decide what they are willing to give in return for getting what they want;
- Negotiate an agreement they both think is fair and reasonable.
That said, mediation is also a great opportunity for the parties to communicate openly and clear up any misunderstanding. In other words, they can clarify their own perspectives, listen to each other, and understand what assumptions each party was making (about each other and about their dispute) that led them to arrive at different conclusions.
For this reason, often the outcome of mediation is not just a mutually acceptable settlement, but also a better relationship between the parties.
To learn more about mediation, you may want to read my article All You Need to Know About Mediation – 18 Frequently Asked Questions.
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