Foundations
In turbulent conflicts, it’s essential to ask this type of question to gain deeper insight into the other party’s perspective and promote mutual understanding.
What are powerful questions?
In an effective negotiation, the negotiator should not come into the conflict expecting to fix the problem with an outside perspective, but instead allow parties draw their own conclusions from the mediated dialogue.
What is allowing the participants to "game-plan" their negotiated agreement?
These strategies - neutral location, strategic seating, monitor emotional temperature and verbal attacks, ensure privacy, and use separate conversations help maintain essential conditions for a productive mediation.
What are elements of safety or protection during a mediation session?
This is the core purpose of dialogue according to Schirch and Campt—it’s not to win or persuade but to do this.
What is to build understanding across differences?
It’s important to practice this skill to show the other party that they are truly being heard and understood when they share their perspectives.
What is active listening?
Jayne Docherty outlines in The Little Book of Strategic Negotiation that a stable setting provides mechanisms that support the negotiation process.
What are mutually accepted rules of behavior?
These mediator behaviors—cross-examining, counseling, judging, giving advice, dominating, an patronizing, can quickly derail the mediation and damage trust between participants.
What should mediators avoid during a session?
Before dialogue begins, facilitators must establish these: shared guidelines that promote safety, trust, and respect.
What are ground rules or group agreements?
Facilitators in a negotiation should keep a certain composure to make sure all parties feel like they aren't being treated unfairly.
What is impartiality?
According to Bernard Mayer, these factors - formal authority, expertise, associations, resources, procedural control, sanctions, nuisance, habitual influence, moral standing, and personal qualities -should all be considered during a negotiation.
What are sources of power?
This outlines who, what, when, and how much as part of a particular aspect of the mediation process.
What is positive framing of the agreement?
This listening approach emphasizes curiosity, withholding judgment, and reflecting back what you hear to ensure understanding
What is active or reflective listening?
Roger Fisher lays out in Getting To Yes that fundamental to reaching a negotiated agreement we must separate two key components of the issues.
What is separating people from problems?
Jayne Docherty highlights this practice as essential for fostering positive relationships and creating a shared narrative between conflicting parties
What is storytelling?
A mediator does not have any personal interest in the mediation or the outcome, and does not favor one side over the other. During mediation, both sides are treated equally and fairly.
What is neutrality and impartiality?
Schirch and Campt outline four phases of dialogue: preparation, process design, facilitation, and this final step that ensures learning is sustained.
What is follow-up and continued relationship-building?