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Does negotiation training provide special help to the mediator?

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The mediator is the peacemaker�the third party negotiator. He is an outside party who is brought in for the express purpose of obtaining a resolution to the conflict. Unlike negotiators in sales, he is not one of the parties involved in the negotiation, and the outcome has no real effect on him. Increasingly, businesses are turning to mediators to resolve disputes rather than go to court.

Different negotiation training workshops will deal with mediators in different ways. Some seminars may be designed especially for mediators while others may include the topic at one session or may not deal with mediation as a separate topic. There are also mediator training and certification programs that deal specifically with this scenario.

Regardless, the negotiation techniques learned can still be useful. It is especially wise for a mediator to do his homework and research the issues from the perspective of both sides. He can then go into the negotiation with at least an idea of what each side might be willing to accept and give up. It is also essential that a mediator not take sides, as this can essentially doom negotiation from the outset. A mediator enters as the third party and should stay the third party.

All negotiators, whether they are a party to the issue or not, should seek to resolve the issue in a win-win situation, so that both parties go home satisfied. The next time they negotiate, then, they will seek simply resolution rather than revenge.

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