AFM Programs & Services

Mediation Services

Preparation for Mediation

Here are several questions to assist you in preparing for mediation. We encourage parties to be open-minded and flexible (See Creating Collaboration). We suggest that you jot down some notes so that you don't overlook something that is important to you.

1. Regarding this issue, what is important to you?

2. What do you think is important to the other party? Try to envision how you would react and what you would want if you were in their situation.

3. What is a realistic outcome?

4. Identify and list as many creative options to resolve your issues as you can. Think of what the other party could do to make things work for you.

5. Prioritize the options allowing room for flexibility.

6. What could you do to make things work for the other party?

7. What can you live with, in order to resolve the situation?

A resolution is not "set in stone." The situation may change (ex. parties changing priorities, parties feeling differently) resulting in the parties wish to reconvene with or without a mediator to make adjustments in the details of the resolution. In some situations, we may not achieve resolution, but through increased understanding we can manage the situation with a more positive attitude.