Description
Write a reflection paper addressing each of the following prompts. Include a subheading for each prompt. Provide support from course materials or outside academic sources to support each of your responses.
- What characteristics does an effective mediator possess?
- Are these characteristics innate or can they be learned?
- Which of these characteristics do you believe that you have and which do you feel you lack? How will this impact your effectiveness as a mediator?
- Discuss how barriers to mediation can be overcome in the convening stage.
- In your opinion, what are some of the most common barriers, and how do you plan to address them with potential parties?
- Why do these types of barriers exist?
- Discuss the importance of confidentiality in mediation.
- Support your response with the appropriate code.
- What problems do you see yourself having maintaining confidentiality? Explain your response.
- What are your options when faced with a situation in which you must maintain confidentiality but feel that information given you will inhibit your effectiveness as a mediator?
- Why is confidentiality an essential element of the mediation process?
- Under what conditions can confidentiality be broken by the mediator?
- Distinguish between the processes of negotiation and mediation.
- Examine the similarities and differences.
- When is each process appropriate?
- What are the challenges of each? Your answers must integrate your assigned readings and text materials. Strong responses will also include material from the negotiation course.

Explanation & Answer

Attached.
Discussion Questions
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation
Course Name
Professors Name
Date
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Discussion Questions
Introduction
A mediator is a third-party person who tries to end a disagreement between two parties or
individuals by simply engaging them in a conversation that leads to a fair solution. A mediator,
therefore, is expected to be a neutral person who considers the complaints from both sides and
leads them to an agreement. In our modern society, a mediator, in most cases, is a person who
has studied law, but it is not always the case. Therefore, a mediator should possess some unique
characteristics to be effective in their mediation activity. Thus, this paper aims to explore the
characteristics of an effective mediator, how barriers to mediation can be overcome at the
convening stage, the importance of confidentiality in the mediation, and lastly, to distinguish
between the negotiation and mediation process.
Characteristics of an Effective Mediator
The role of mediation calls for an individual to possess various traits that enable them to
lead the disagreeing parties to a consensus and resolve the conflicts successfully. I believe an
effective mediator should possess trustworthiness, humility, logic, neutrality, patience, active
listening skills, empathy, effective communication, and dedication. An effective mediator should
be trustworthy to enable the two disagreeing parties to feel safe and secure even in the final
decision that will be agreed upon (Beer & Packard, 2012). Through the possession of trust value, a
mediator will be able to use their power sincerely, portraying a high level of fairness throughout
the mediation process. In close relation to trustworthiness is the aspect of neutrality. To be an
effective mediator, one is supposed to show no favours to any of the parties but instead listen to
the grievances of the two parties and guide them to a consensus.
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Also, the mediation process requires active listening since a mediator is supposed to
allow each party to express their concerns about what resulted in the disagreement. For this
reason, an effective mediator should possess active listening skills to understand the complaints
of the two parties (Beer & Packard, 2012). Active listening will not only require a mediator to
listen to the words spoken by the two parties but also interpret the underlying emotions and
motivation of each party involved in t...
