[MUSIC] A mediation is about to start, it is important to get prepared and here I do not recommend shear improvisation. How to get ready? Either as the mediator, and this will be discussed in the next video, or the party to this upcoming mediation. In this video, let me introduce two ways which parties can follow in order to get ready before mediation. The first approach is simple and swift, to be applied in all sort of daily situations. The second approach is more thorough and systematic, to be used in more complicated cases. Now, let's go to the first approach to get ready as a party. This focuses on information exchange. As a party, take just a few minutes to go through the following three point list. First, what do you absolutely need to tell during the meeting? Here, highlight the items which you consider critical for yourself. For instance, deep motivations and needs or red lines, you're ready to stand for, given legitimate reasons. Second, what should you not tell during the meeting, or only to the mediator in a separate meeting without the other party? Here, identify critical pieces of information which you consider sensitive, and remember that the mediator follows a confidentiality rule. It is in your own interest to entrust him or her with any information needed to help solve the conflict. Third, which questions would you like to ask? Questions to the other party, for example in order to understand certain issues which you consider at the core of the conflict, or questions to the mediator? For instance, in order to clarify his or her role. So what to say, what not to say and which questions to ask. This is simple, swift and proven to help. Now of course in more complicated cases, you will need a slightly more sophisticated preparation method. And this thorough preparation method will help you cover the three dimensions of any conflict situation, people who is involved, problem, what is at stake, process, how do we proceed? This preparation method is described in more details in our MOOC on negotiation fundamentals. It covers ten elements. In the people dimension, analyze the three following elements. 1, who will meet at the mediation table? Build an assessment of the personal relationships between these people. 2, who are real decision-makers? Some of the people around the table might be there on behalf of an organization that must respect a mandate set by the boss. 3, who are the other stakeholders? People who would not be around the table because they're not the direct contenders, but nevertheless who have a stake in that discussion. They could help understand what happened, or they could contribute to solutions. It is, therefore, important to map them out. In the problem dimension, analyze the four following elements. Number 4, what are your core motivations? What do you absolutely need to fulfill through this mediation and why? And to the best of your knowledge, what are the core motivations of the other people around the table? Number 5, what could be interesting solutions at the table to be put into the package deal? What could you honestly do? What could you ask the other side to do? What could you, together, ask a third stakeholder to help achieve? And the 6, what will help evaluate the legitimacy of the solutions? You need to identify justifications or objective reference points which nobody can deny. And that will helped reach a fair agreement. Number 7, what are the solutions away from the mediation table? What could you do on your own should the mediation fail, and what could the other do in that scenario? On the third dimension, process, analyze the last three elements. Number 8, how will the mediation be organized? Did the mediator tell you how she should proceed in terms of the number of meetings, duration of each session, rules of the game, etc. Number 9, how will you manage information exchange? What to say, what not to say, questions to ask and to expect. And number 10, last but not least, the logistics. Which paper documents do you need with you? Do you have all the files you need on your computer? How should you dress? Formal or not so formal, etc? Okay, now you're ready to join the mediation. And in the next video, we will see how the mediator can get ready.
