WHAT IS A MEDIATOR?
Talking of conflict situations, a mediator may be simply defined as an outsider who intervenes in a conflict involving others.
The role of mediator can be interpreted in different ways, but as far as I am concerned, my intervention is (a) free from personal interests and (b) aimed solely at making the interaction between the parties involved constructive.
I firmly believe in the principle of self-determination (i.e. that only those directly involved can decide on their own issues) and I do not want to influence them in any way. My intervention philosophy is called “transformative”. See here for further information about this approach.
AREAS OF INTERVENTION
Conflict is everywhere. Therefore, there are no areas that are off limits to my interventions. However, if we want to categorise the areas in which I operate most, they are:
– issues relating to business relationships (commercial transactions, relationships between partners, etc.)
– problems within a family (separations, inheritance, etc.)
– workplace relationships
– neighbourly relationships.
ON WHAT BASIS DO I OPERATE?
Most of the conflict situations in which I intervene require that all parties involved agree to use me as a mediator. Usually, therefore, a shared mandate is necessary, setting out the programme and costs of what is expected of me.
Other times, I am appointed by a mediation centre and I operate according to its rules. In such cases, I am assigned to the parties rather than chosen by them, but they can always opt for someone else. For contacts details see here.