Establishing a constructive and engaged relationship between stakeholders who fundamentally disagree is extremely challenging. Such disagreements can become more entrenched and destructive without a communication channel where stakeholders can share feedback, raise concerns and negotiate confidentially and confidently.
Mediation is an extremely effective communications channel and relationship builder for stakeholder engagement and issues management. It is applicable to people and organisations in the corporate, not-for-profit, government and political sectors. It helps stakeholders to overcome hostility, create constructive two-way communication and opens-up areas for negotiation for disagreeing stakeholders.
Stakeholder engagement and issues management mediation is facilitative only. There is no role for the mediator to evaluate or make a decision about any matter. Although sharing concerns and problem-solving is the ultimate aim of such mediations, a large part of stakeholder engagement mediation is focused on improving relationships and communication. This is assisted by the legally-binding confidentiality agreement that must be signed by the stakeholders engaging in the mediation. Nothing said or information shared in the context of the mediation can be repeated elsewhere – unless all the stakeholders agree, of course. Even the very occurence of a mediation between stakeholders can be kept secret.
Stakeholder mediation may not resolve differences immediately, but there are instant results: it establishes personal and working relationships between stakeholders; opens trusted, confidential feedback channels; encourages respectful, in-depth communication with a respect for nuance; and enables stakeholders to be creative to discover ways to work together to resolve problems.