15/09/2014
Why does mediation work? It Helps Everyone Meet Their Needs !!
Many disputes are not about who is right or wrong. They are really about the parties' unmet needs.
For example, each of the two sisters above needs an orange for a recipe, but there is only one in the house. They argue and flip to see who will buy more. But then a thought occurs to them. They ask each other, “Why do you need the orange?”“For the rind,” says one. “For the juice,” says the other. One orange satisfies both recipes. Both sisters win.
That’s the heart of mediation. Communicating to meet people’s needs.
Many problems in life are, of course, more complex. But the same principle applies. Mediation asks the parties what they need, then asks them to suggest practical solutions that meet all of their needs.
This calls for creative thinking. And most of the time, it works.
For more info see: www.morphmediation.co.za