Mediation Approach - The Phoenix Strategies Model

    PraxisOne Consulting approaches mediation and conflict resolution from the perspective of collaboration, facilitation, and interest-based awareness.

    Collaboration supports the parties’ relationship and partnering. The mediator focuses on opportunities where parties choose to express care/concern, trust building, effective communication and cooperation for mutual satisfaction. Desired mediator behaviors include: acknowledgement, inclusive summaries, commonalities, mutual frames, inclusive language, talking minimally and supporting direct talk between parties, along with pauses for reflection and appreciation. The opening statements include the idea that mediation is a collaborative process whereby parties work together/partner and understand each other.

    Facilitation provides for self-determination by equipping parties to discover the fullness of the situation and then make decisions. Mediator behaviors that support empowerment include: asking open questions that are exploring and clarifying, assisting parties to analyze and to realize resources and capabilities; summarizing; providing reflection time; following parties’ words and non-verbals and using “you” language. The mediator’s role is to facilitate a conversation and the parties’ role is to make the decisions. Opinions and judgments by the mediator are avoided.

    Interest-based mediation focuses on interests throughout each step of process: exploring, identifying, analyzing and evaluating, and satisfying the parties’ interests.During opening statements the mediator emphasizes the importance of both parties’ interests being identified and/or satisfied at each step of the process. Positions are avoided.