Executive and Professional Development at Saint Mary's University

Mediation Skills

Negotiation, Mediation & Conflict Resolution Programs

In today’s workplace, effectively resolving conflict at the lowest level makes good sense from both human resource and financial perspectives. This seminar explores the principles of mediation as a dispute resolution process - a practice where a mediator brings disputing parties together and guides them to a mutually beneficial and respectful agreement. Mediation Skills demonstrates how a decision made by the disputing parties leads to fewer unresolved conflicts, better compliance, and a healthier work environment. Through mediation, costs are reduced by avoiding more adversarial processes to conflict resolution and by minimizing stress and related leave. This two-day seminar analyzes the skills and principles involved in conducting effective and ethical mediation on interpersonal, inter-organizational and intra-organizational levels.

Mediation Skills is a required seminar for the Certificate in Negotiation, Mediation and Conflict Resolution.

"The instructor's training was well presented. I really enjoyed learning from her and I am sure I will be able

to apply the tools and skills I learned. The benefit will be for the public."

PROGRAM CONTENT

What is Mediation?

Governing principles of mediation

How mediation differs from other dispute resolution processes

Different styles of mediation

The participants and their roles

Pre-mediation:

What is it?

Why use it?

How to conduct an effective pre-mediation

The Four-Stage Model Including:

Gaining commitment

Using an agreement to mediate

Establishing guidelines

Defining issues

Managing information

Probing needs and concerns

Developing options

Getting to a settlement

Documenting the Memorandum of Understanding

Caucus

WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

How to resolve conflict in a non-adversarial manner as a third party

When mediation is appropriate
The stages and steps in a mediation process
How to guide interest-based negotiation in mediation
The process skills of the mediator
The appropriate use of caucus

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

You will benefit from this seminar if you:

are in a workplace group involved in conflict

are an individual involved in conflict

are HR personnel

are a supervisor or manager

have an interest in collaborative conflict resolution

are a leader

are interested in appropriate dispute resolution