WHY MEDIATION IS VOLUNTARY AND COMPULSORY MEDIATION WOULD BE INEFFECTIVE!

Mediation is a voluntary process. Its effectiveness comes from the fact that participants are present with an intention of trying to create a different way forward in their situation. They are not present because they 'have to be'. This is crucial to any outcomes being both appropriate and sustainable because the participants will create what works for them and not what a third party imposes on them.    Alan presents his interpretation of 3 different perspectives that often propose the idea of making mediation a compulsory process: The 'system-led' view, the 'practitioner-led' view and the 'moral' view. A feature of all of these views is that they make the wishes and context of the participants secondary to other interests and as a consequence there will be little incentive for participants to engage with the process and a greater likelihood that the mediator will take a 'fixing' or directive approach to the process and as such it will be little different to the adversarial processes that mediation is designed to be an alternative to.    Alan Sharland has been a Mediator and Conflict Coach for over 25 years and now runs CAOS Conflict Management based in London, UK. Alan's videos and podcasts are based on his observations when working with people involved in unresolved conflict during the last 25 years working as a mediator, conflict coach and conflict management consultant in London and across the UK. Subscribe to the Communication and Conflict YouTube Channel: Check out the Communication and Conflict Facebook page: Visit the Communication and Conflict website: Alan is Director of CAOS Conflict Management based in London, UK BOOKS How to Resolve Bullying in the Workplace: Stepping Out of the Circle of Blame to Create an Effective Outcome for All A Guide To Effective Communication for Conflict Resolution - How Mindful Communication Supports Growth Through Conflict. CREDITS Outro Music: All Colours Pt 6 by Bob Holroyd, from album Hollowman: