The mediator as a peace bearer

The mediator as a peace bearer

It is my belief that Mediation is not only about solving disputes, but also about spreading peace. I think Mediators should be walking-peace-bearers, so that the parties can feel peace when he or she enters the room.

This sense of peace that the Mediator brings to the table helps the parties calm down, relax and open their minds. In that way, they can search for a solution in a less-stressful way. Best of all, once the Mediation is over they will be able to carry such peace with them into their lives.

In order for a Mediator to project peace to the parties, he or she must first feel such peace inside, feel in peace with him or herself and with the world. [1] A Mediator in peace is able to use his or her skills more wisely. Peace also helps him or her to bring out his or her best qualities, the ones that make him or her unique, the ones that shape his or her “presence”.

In one of my Mediations at the Superior Court in Guayaquil, Ecuador, I was assigned to mediate a very complicated case. The parties were relatives and had four different lawsuits against each other, including a criminal one for “forgery of a signature.” It had all started by one of the relatives lending the beach house to a nephew. The dispute had grown in proportions and now there were around 10 members of the family involved in it. After almost four hours of Mediation, we were able to resolve all four cases. They reconciled and wrapped up in a big hug. After the Mediation, they were all gathered and talking to each other in the receiving room. I noticed them looking at me and commenting about something. One of them then approached me and told me something that made an important difference in my career. She said that they were pointing out how they felt that being with me in the room was like being sprayed with a “mist of peace” and how that had helped them come to an agreement. The remark amazed me. It was then when I discovered the power of the Mediator’s “presence.”

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