ADVANTAGES OF MEDIATION

Parties elect to participate in mediation because of the potential for better settlement than those available through litigation or other procedures involving third party decision makers.

Mediation provides a safe environment for the participants to explore options and can modify their positions without fear of losing face in front of colleges or coworkers.

Parties who have reached their own "customized" agreements are generally more likely to follow through and abide and comply with terms than those whose agreement has been imposed by a third-party decision maker

Mediation can be scheduled and held in a matter of days, not weeks or months.  This can be critical to intervening in the esculaltion of conflict and prevent unnecessay delays in finding mutually agreeable resolutions.

The role of the mediator is specifically to help parties find their own satisfactory, workable solutions by being an effective facilitator and providing structure, focus and assistancce with communication.

Mediation agreements, which result in negotiated solutions that address each of the parties' needs (win/win), are much better able to preserve present and future relationships than win/lose procedures.