Mediation FAQs
It’s natural to have questions about mediation. We answer the most common questions here. Our mediators will be more than happy to other questions you might have.
Mediation is a safe place where people can come together to explore difficult issues, and take action to improve things and find a way forward. Mediators are experts in helping people find solutions through questions, listening and conversations. They are trained in helping people hear each other, express themselves and find a way forward which they have both signed up to.
How it works:
The mediators will design a process to fit your specific circumstances:
- They will meet you first without the people you are facing issues with, for around an hour. They will help you explore what you might want to get out of mediation, and help you think through your options.
- Then, if everyone is willing, they will facilitate a conversation with everyone present, to find a shared solution. They will usually begin with inviting people to share what their concerns are and get all the issues out in to the open, before exploring solutions.
- They may vary the process – for example offering more than one conversation – depending on what people need and what is most likely to be effective.
When people agree to meet with each other to find a way forward, the majority of people find a resolution to their issues or reach agreement (70-80% across all industries).
Even when people don’t reach agreement, they are likely to get other positive outcomes from the process. In our experience, having a space to think through the issues and communicate them to the other person can give people a sense of relief and closure.
Sometimes one mediation can be enough to resolve a situation. Other times it provides a catalytic moment which points people in the direction of change.
We see the most progress in mediation when people come to us early, as this can help to avoid the stress and anxiety of issues getting worse.
No. Mediation is voluntary – people are given the choice to take part, rather than being forced. This is part of its power: when people choose to be in a room, they often make different choices from when they’re forced to take part in a process.
Our mediators will help you think through your options by asking questions about the pros and cons of the different options you have.
Mediation doesn’t stop you choosing to try something else later. But it can save you a lot of stress and hassle by helping you reach a resolution you have a say in, rather than getting no resolution, or resolution imposed by a judge.
Yes. Right from the start, your conversations with the mediators are confidential. Mediation is also “without prejudice” which means that nothing said or done in mediation will be referred to elsewhere, including legal processes. Everything remains private rather than going on public record. This can make it a more honest, creative and future-focussed conversation. The goal is to find solutions rather than to decide who is right or wrong through gathering evidence.
No – the skills of a mediator enable change without relying on telling people what they think they should do. Mediators are trained to ask powerful questions to help people to understand the issues more deeply. They help people explore better approaches or solutions than what they have been living with currently. Any decisions come from the people themselves. This makes real change more likely, and more lasting.
Mediation is an extremely cost effective way of resolving disputes, compared to pursuing a legal route or leaving the issue to get worse. Acas research estimates that the cost of conflict to the UK economy, just in the workplace alone, is £28.5 billion.
You can just drop us an email and we will get back to you. We usually arrange a confidential phone call with you to explore the context and whether mediation is suitable. Then we take it from there.
