We’ve been experimenting with sketching parts of our mediation process. Here’s what we think is happening in the Exchange, during the first part of the mediation when people are exploring the situation. The green boxes are what the mediator is aiming for, what needs to happen for the parties to reach emotional resolution or start effective problem-solving.

All those arrows! The Exchange is an interactive mediation phase, overflowing with feelings and information.

So this next sketch details the right hand side of the Exchange flow sketch above. It’s still not quite right, and we’re chewing over the definition of an interest, and also how to show the repeated questions and reflections that lead to an “interpretation & emotion free” way of describing behaviors and interests. Of course there IS no such thing as an interpretation free statement. Nor are we dismissing the importance of people talking about their emotions and interpretations. What we’re trying to get at is a tactful way for the mediators to talk about people’s problems and hopes. Stripping out interpretations:

1. provides specific information that lends itself to practical solutions. (i.e. “George stacks papers and reports on the floor by his desk and I have trouble finding things there”, versus “George’s work area is a disgusting, distracting mess.”
   
2. allows each participant to say “yes, that’s a problem I want to work on” rather than “that’s HIS point of view!”
   
3. keeps the mediator impartial towards all sides, and neutral about the veracity or significance of each party’s views.
   

We’ll post our next version soon. Meanwhile, we’d appreciate your thoughts.