Flexible Mediation:
Tailoring the Approach to Meet Your Needs
Mediation is a valuable tool for resolving conflicts without going to court, but there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Depending on the situation and needs of the people involved, mediators can adapt their style to find the best way forward. At Synthesis Legal, we are trained in both interest-based and evaluative mediation approaches, and we are flexible in using one or both to guide each case toward a successful resolution.
Interest-Based Mediation: Finding Common Ground
In interest-based mediation, also called facilitative mediation, the focus is on understanding each party’s core needs, motivations, and concerns. We help both sides communicate openly, which often leads to a collaborative solution that satisfies everyone. This approach is ideal for cases where maintaining relationships is important, such as in estate disputes or workplace situations, because it fosters understanding and respect.
Evaluative Mediation: Providing Guidance and Practical Solutions
For cases that require more direct guidance, such as construction, business or technical disputes, we typically use a more evaluative approach. In this style, the mediator leverages their expertise to help assess the strengths and weaknesses of each side’s position, offering insights into likely outcomes if the dispute were to go to court. This approach helps both sides quickly reach a realistic, fair solution based on practical advice.
Adapting to Your Needs
We understand that each case is unique. Depending on your goals, we can shift seamlessly between interest-based and evaluative techniques—or use a blend of both.
In mediations we have attended as legal counsel, we have found that sometimes mediators forget to listen and ask critical questions to get to the bottom of the parties’ interests- missing potential opportunities for creative and mutually satisfying solutions.
Our training, experience and adaptability allows us to provide a tailored mediation experience that prioritizes what matters most to you. If preserving relationships is key, we will emphasize open dialogue and collaboration. If you need a quicker, practical resolution, we will take a more evaluative approach to guide you there efficiently.
By tailoring our approach to meet your specific needs, we ensure that each case receives the right approach.
We are ready to help you find the best path forward.
If you are interested in learning more about the different types of mediation, check out these resources:
Styles of Mediation: Facilitative, Evaluative, and Transformative Mediation – Mediate.com