In this article, our Resolve It team member and dispute resolution professional Chris Lewis explores the importance of restorative processes in mediation.
Conflict and disputes can be closely intertwined with hurt and harm. One or both parties can often feel deeply hurt or harmed by the other party because of the conflict or dispute. In such cases, facts can take a back seat to feelings. These feelings, if left unresolved, can get in the way of a speedy and efficient resolution of the conflict. Often they can make retaliation more important than solutions. This is why restorative processes are an important part of mediation.
Restorative Processes in Mediation.
Restorative processes are less about facts and more about taking the time to listen and understand. That is to say, they allow each party to appreciate the other person’s perspective while sharing their own. Unlike facts, two perspectives can be totally different. However, when given the opportunity, parties can both understand and validate each other’s perspectives. This restorative process is can clear the way to win-win solutions where retaliation becomes unimportant.
A restorative process helps parties in dispute to understand and address harm in a very personal way. When someone is hurt, a good question is always what do they need to move forward. This is personal to the individual and can often be very simple and easily achieved.
The role of a dispute resolution professional.
Above all, a good facilitator has the ability to refocus the parties from arguments over facts. In other words, they guide them to take time and hear each other’s perspective. This rarely happens in a legal argument where each person can hold on to their own perspective as fact.
A skilled restorative facilitator can assist parties to shift from this is what happened to this is how I saw it. It can open up possibilities that other people can see things differently and that a big part of the conflict may result from perspective.
Most importantly, taking the time to understand and share in a facilitated environment using restorative processes can achieve faster and less costly solutions to conflict. It can help the conflicted parties navigate the future differently.