Mediation Mugs

"Ahh, the arbitration team is here."

'I'm sorry...what other options are there?'

'So we're agreed: we'll go to mediation.'

Restorative Justice Victim's Revenge.

'Ready for your first lesson in negotiations?'

'A good negotiator can stand back and gain perspective.'

'Right...we've agreed to mediation to decide whether or not we go to mediation!'

'Insofar as all parties have agreed to mediation, I've taken the liberty of hiring a medium.'

'We will conduct this mediation effort according to 'Robert's rules of order' and if need be, by the 'Marquis of Queensbury's rules.'

An office worker at the conflict resolution center is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"That's your best advice? Play nice!"

Need Better Process

'What you're saying basically is that you and Bob do not seem to see eye to eye...'

'Hey, get out of my space!'

At an impasse, facing a brick wall.

'Violence never accomplishes anything, son. The goal of all civilized people is the out-of-court-settlement.'

Monastery Kitchen - Ombudsmonk

National Mediators Society. Push. Pull.

Mediation Process

"I'm sure if you two tried, you'd find all kinds of points of contact."

'It WAS rather unkind of you to hide his bottle-opener, Mrs Jones.'

'I don't remember when I've ever lost such a tough arbitration.'

'We should settle out of court more often.'

'Apparently Wednesday is early conciliation day.'

"Okay, you still have all the old problems, but we're adding new ones and you can't touch.

The unfortunate night there were two talking sticks at the conflict resolution meeting.

She began to wonder if they were beyond mediation.

'I'm you early conciliation support officer.'

"Uh-oh this is going to be a tough one."

Bridging the Gap

"Not again! - Will you two ever get on...??"

"What we need here, is negotiation!"

"Houston, could you tell my copilot I'm really sorry for what I said, and I'd really like to come back in now?"

"You're not the boss of me! Why do you always assume you're in charge?"

Come Back Sloane