June 21, 2017
We are going to let you in on an industry secret: many people who complete mediation training do not become full-time mediators. Those who pursue a full-time career as a mediator can find fulfillment and success In general, though, people who train as mediators are simply looking to build their skills and incorporate mediation into the work they are already doing. So what can you gain from a mediation training? Recently, we collected reflections from participants in MWI’s 40 Hour Mediation Training to answer that question.
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June 16, 2017
In our last post, we discussed the questions you should ask yourself before walking away from a negotiation. Once you determine that you’re ready to end the conversation, it’s time to think about how to walk away from a deal. In this moment, it can feel satisfying to burn bridges and walk away in style. However, you have an opportunity to create value even when you are walking away from a negotiation. As you think about how to walk away from a deal, consider the following.
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June 8, 2017
Not every negotiation should end with an agreement. But how do you know when it’s the right time to walk away from a deal? Before walking away from a deal, first consider what you will do if you choose to walk away from a deal. Evaluate the current deal with your Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement – or, in negotiation lingo, your BATNA. Compare how the deal on the table and your BATNA meet your needs. You should never accept a deal that meets fewer of your needs than your BATNA. Let’s say your BATNA meets your needs better than the deal on the table. Time to walk away, righ
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June 1, 2017
Imagine a negotiation over buying a used car. Both the salesperson and the customer are looking at the same car in the same lot. However, each person has reached different conclusions about the suitability of the car for the customer. The salesperson is certain this car is perfect, while the customer can't wait to move on to something else. How can two people, receiving the same data at the same time, come to such different conclusions? By better understanding the process of how we reach conclusions, we can improve our negotiation techniques and more effectively influence others. In Peter
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May 18, 2017
Conflict in the workplace in inevitable. MWI mediators are experts at helping people across the country resolve conflict in the workplace and manage hundreds of disputes in any given year. We encourage those who are in dispute to welcome a third party neutral to rebuild communication, trust, and capacity for resolving disputes moving forward. However, not every conflict in the workplace requires the help of a mediator. Utilizing some basic mediation techniques, you can more effectively navigate difficult conversations and resolve conflict in the workplace. The next time you have a conflict
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May 16, 2017
Massachussetts Child & Spousal Support Resources Calculating child support or other divorce expenses in Massachusetts has never been easier thanks to the many apps and calculators available online or with your local divorce mediation firms. What’s more, other divorce-related expenses, i.e., spousal support have dedicated worksheets that are especially helpful for sorting through the clutter! Here are some […]
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May 11, 2017
Maybe you’ve been called a pushover. Or a team player. Or aggressive. Or maybe you’ve been called all three! Our negotiation style can – and should – change depending on the situation. Negotiation styles aren’t static, and we are most likely to have positive negotiations if we can adapt to different situations. There is no right or wrong negotiation style, but having awareness of the style we lean towards in different situations is key to becoming a more successful negotiator.
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May 4, 2017
Participants in MWI’s Negotiation Trainings often ask how they should handle significant power imbalances in negotiation, especially when they perceive themselves to be in a position of lower power. “A collaborative approach is all well and good,” they say, “but what happens when the other side doesn’t need to buy into that approach because they have the upper hand?” It’s essential to point out that, even if one party has less power by certain standards (financial resources, level of influence, etc..) they still have some power, and they can learn to leverage that power more
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April 20, 2017
The word “ombudsman” comes from a Swedish term that dates back to 1809, when the Swedish parliament decided to protect citizens’ rights by establishing a supervisory agency independent of the government. Dictionaries differ about the word’s origin, but many in the field prefer one scholar’s definition of the ombudsman (or ombuds or ombudsperson) as “a person who has an ear to the people.”
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April 18, 2017
I Wish My Parents Chose Divorce Mediation by Betsy Gardner I would never change the fact that my parents got a divorce. But I would change the way they did it. I now know that there is a healthier route for separation, and I had the chance to see this during my experience as a participant during […]
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