The Beginner’s Guide to Remote Mediation

What is a Remote Mediation and How Do You Make It Work?

Remote mediation is a type of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) that allows people to resolve their disputes without having to be in the same physical location.

Remote mediation is a growing trend in the legal and business world for many reasons. 

    • It provides access to justice for people who would not otherwise have it, 

    • it saves time and money, and 

    • it can be done from any location that has internet access.

Remote mediation is becoming more popular because of the increasing number of cases that are being filed from different parts of the world and multinational companies that have different branches in different regions.

Why You Should Consider Remote Mediations for Your Business?

It can be challenging to find the time and opportunity to sit down face-to-face with someone and work through a conflict. Remote mediation offers a solution for this problem. 

In essence, remote mediation is an alternative dispute resolution process that utilizes technology to connect individuals in different locations and provide them with the tools needed for successful conflict resolution. Remote mediation is a form of Online Dispute Resolution. It is a cost-effective and efficient way of resolving disputes that do not require people to take time off from their jobs or travel long distances. 

Remote mediation can be conducted in person or through video conferencing, depending on the needs of the parties involved. A remote mediator can review a company's unique dispute resolution process to identify issues that may impede its ability to effectively mediate. 

Remote mediation is used by hundreds of companies to resolve disputes with minimal disruption to their day-to-day operations. The approach has been shown to be an effective tool for resolving disputes in many different industries, including education, finance, healthcare, and the hospitality industry.

Conflict Resolution Techniques for Remote Mediations

Conflict resolution is an important part of mediation. It is a process that helps to understand the root cause of the conflict. The mediator needs to be skilled in conflict resolution techniques in order to help the parties resolve their problems. 

There are many different types of conflict resolution techniques that can be used by a mediator. These include:

    • Active Listening: listening and understanding what the other party has to say without interrupting them or judging them. 

    • Reflective Listening: reflecting back on what the other party has said and checking for understanding 

    • Clarifying Questions: asking questions about anything that is not clear 

    • Reframing: rephrasing the other party's perspective to see it in a different light so that the conflict can be better resolved

    • Using Images or Analogies: using images, similes, or metaphors to help explain something

    • Values: identifying what values are important and which ones must be sacrificed for this issue

    • Summarizing: summarizing what has been said so far and checking for understanding 

The Best Tools & Software for Successful Remote Mediations

In the world of mediation, there are many ways for people to communicate. One of the most popular methods is through the use of technology. 

Some people might think that using technology to conduct a mediation would be ineffective and difficult, but it does not have to be. There are many tools and software available that allow mediators to help their clients feel more comfortable while they work out their differences.

Here are some of the best tools and software for successful remote mediations.

Facetime: Facetime is a video chat application that enables you to make voice and video calls with other Apple device users. It has many features such as group chats, text messages, and even video-calling to people who don't have an Apple device. 

Skype: Skype is a popular tool for conducting remote mediation sessions. It's free to use and has many features such as free voice-over IP calls, screen sharing, file transfer, etc. 

Google Hangouts: Google Hangouts is another tool for conducting remote mediation sessions that is available for free on all devices (desktop/mobile). It can be used for voice as well as video calls, file transfer, and screen sharing.

Whatsapp: Whatsapp is a free application that uses your phone number to enable you to text and make voice calls with other users. Besides group chats, it also has the feature of sending photos across devices and emojis.

Zoom: Zoom is a service platform for conducting remote mediation sessions that is available on all devices (desktop/mobile). It provides a platform for audio communication, screen sharing, file transfer, and calls to both landlines and mobile phones.

IS REMOTE MEDIATION FOR YOU OR YOUR ORGANIZATION?

There are a number of factors to consider before engaging in a remote mediation. As always, fitting the forum to the fuss continues to be the guiding principle. One should consider the pros and cons of attempting to resolve a dispute remotely before engaging in a dispute resolution process. The impact of the remote process on the mediator, parties and other stakeholders should always be considered. 

There are also other factors to consider when choosing the best route for the conflict(s) you have in mind. In some instances, empowering people in your organization to develop their conflict management skills might be helpful. In other instances, perhaps speaking to a professional about ways to navigate the issue might also be helpful.