A Day in the Life of a Mediator
Being a professional mediator is all about conflict resolution, and so the job demands a
person with excellent reasoning, problem-solving, and peace-making abilities. When two parties
have a dispute and wish to avoid the legal intricacies of litigation, they may call in a mediator
to facilitate an equitable solution. While many are suspicious of lawyers and attorneys,
mediators are more often attributed with qualities of wisdom, trustworthiness, and neutrality.
Unlike lawyers and judges, who evaluate, assess, and decide for others,mediators help participating
parties evaluate, assess, and decide for themselves. Parties wishing to avoid the
delays, high costs, publicity, and ill will brought on by
litigation look to mediators as a more peaceful, inexpensive,
and expedient alternative.
The mediator’s job is to listen, sort through differences between the two parties involved
in a dispute, and find common ground upon which to ascertain a solution. A good mediator
is honest, neutral, and encouraging; listens well; and has excellent communication skills.
Helping two parties arrive at a mutually agreeable solution also takes a fair amount of creativity.
Mediation is considered a form of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Although
ADR sounds like a terrible syndrome, it’s in fact a more Zenlike approach to conflict resolution,
with mediators as the master practitioners. Corporations, government agencies, community
organizations, schools, neighborhoods, and even families will turn to mediators when
they seek mutually acceptable answers to their problems. Examples of conflicts they work to
resolve include labor/management issues, health care disputes, environmental/public policy
issues, and international conflicts.
Paying Your Dues
The educational background of a professional mediator varies widely. A fair number in
the field hold law degrees, while others may not even hold a bachelor’s degree. Most important
is an education in mediation, whether taken as part of an undergraduate degree or as
individual training courses. University degrees in public policy, law, and related fields also
provide helpful backgrounds. While few states require licenses or certification to practice
mediation, most individuals in the profession have completed training and pledged to abide
by certain ethical standards.
Present and Future
Historically, mediation has been used to settle many different types of disputes.
Mediation was a solution sought after by warring Greek city-states. Catholic popes became
mediators between European countries during the Renaissance, and recently, Bishop
Desmond Tutu and former President Jimmy Carter have served as mediators in unstable
parts of the world. In the business realm, mediation has long been used as a source for
conflict resolution. Since 1887, the American government has promoted arbitration and
mediation for contractual disputes involving commerce.
Today, increasing numbers of colleges and universities offer degrees in dispute resolution
and conflict management. The field is expected to grow faster than average for all occupations
in the coming years.
Quality of Life
PRESENT AND FUTURE
Mediators don’t often work irregular hours. A dispute may arise at any time, but unless
there is a pending deadline, mediators tend to work eight-hour days. For the first several
years, mediators will stick to smaller problems to build their reputations.
FIVE YEARS OUT
As a mediator’s experience increases, they are called on to help resolve larger disputes.
Mediators aren’t usually called on to travel, although some of the more experienced
mediators travel extensively to help resolve disputes anywhere in the world.
TEN YEARS OUT
Highly competent mediators who have lasted 10 years or more may be called on to
handle high-profile cases ranging from corporate disputes to international peacekeeping
missions.