Mediation Explained...In Just Three Minutes!

When I was first introduced to the mediation process in 1994 I knew little about it. There were few resources available that could provide an insightful and succinct introduction to mediation. More than 20 years later, mediation is thankfully a highly visible part of the larger dispute resolution landscape world-wide. But, there are still many that are unfamiliar with the process.  Some still confuse it with arbitration.  Fortunately, far fewer now confuse it with meditation, but that wasn't the case 20 years ago. 

I'm always on the lookout for useful videos that can help educate and inform.  I recently came across this new one produced by Australia's Mediation Institute, self-described as a specialist vocational education training provider for people interested in pursuing a professional career as a mediator.  The video came to my attention through one of the Mediation Institute's collaborators, Medi8 Australia.

The video runs just over three minutes and in that short span delivers a generic overview of the mediation process using easy to digest plain language and simple graphics to convey how and why mediation works and what the process offers to disputants. This video does not deliver a demonstration of the mediation process - there are many out there that provide that perspective (see, for example, my previous posts The Marketing of Mediation and New Workplace Mediation Video).  But, if you're looking for a short and snappy introduction to mediation, it is a winner!