Workplace Meditation – How should I prepare?

In this blog, we will look at how you can best prepare for your mediation to make sure you get the most out of the process.

Before the mediation day, your mediator will call you at a pre-arranged time to explain the process to you and make sure you are happy to mediate – it is entirely voluntary and so if you feel you are being forced to participate, take the opportunity to say so. Hopefully, having spoken to your mediator will put you more at ease.

After that initial call, we recommend the following steps to help you prepare:

• Try not to be nervous! The thought of coming face-to-face with the colleague that you’ve fallen out with can be daunting. Rest assured, your mediator will make sure that all contact between you takes place in a safe and impartial environment. If at any point during the day you feel unsafe, or need to take a break, you can tell the mediator and you are free to leave at any point. We do recommend that you try to see the day through to the end though, so that you can be confident you’ve both tried your best to reach an agreement.
• Think about what you want to achieve. At the end of the mediation day, you will hopefully be entering into an agreement with your colleague that sets out how you can work together going forward. What would that look like for you? What would you be prepared to do, and what would you want from your colleague?
• Remember that everything you say is confidential. Unless you or your colleague tell your mediator about a crime or that someone is in danger, nothing you say will go any further. Even the contents of your mediation agreement won’t be shared with your employer unless you ask for that to happen. The more honest you are, the more likely you are to reach a resolution.
• Prepare for some difficult emotions to surface. You will be talking about conflict and how that has made you feel. Sometimes, feelings can come up that you weren’t even aware you were harbouring. Whilst this will be difficult, your mediator will be there to help you and your colleague work through those emotions in a safe environment. Be aware of your triggers and try to find coping mechanisms.
• Remember that your colleague will be feeling the same way. Although can be really hard to find empathy for a colleague that you are in conflict with, they are a human being just like you. You may be surprised by what you learn on the day about their emotions, motivations and triggers.
• Keep an open mind. Often people come into mediation thinking “I’ll do it but I don’t expect it will work”. Over 90% of workplace mediations end with the parties reaching an agreement so there is every reason to think that the day will be productive and successful. Keep an open mind and you may be surprised at the end result!