-How to prepare yourselves to manage difficult conversations in Online Mediation-
1 Equipment test run-confidential
Try to ensure that you are as relaxed and prepared as possible when the day comes.
You can help yourself by having had a confidential pre-mediation online test run with the mediator and former partner, for about 10 minutes, a day or so before.
Please read the client guide- instructions for Zoom, on this web page
https://www.compass-resolution.com/online-family-mediation-service/
2 Be honest and open in your communication
During that short test run meeting the mediator may ask you what would help and support you to keep on track and make progress on the day of the mediator.
Please be open and honest with the mediator, and your former partner, if you are needing some additional help or support, to work online.
Everyone comes to online communication with different amounts of experience and confidence.
3.Have a simple clear agenda in mind
Most people communicate more effectively the clearer they are about their own priorities and if they have a clear framework and structure within which to discuss these together online.
Therefore, it almost always helpful to agree in writing with your former partner the specific subjects you wish to focus on in mediation and send this to the mediator beforehand.
Or, if this is likely to be too difficult, you may both wish to individually send the mediator a note of the things you each wish to sort out in mediation. The mediator can then create a ‘consolidated agenda’ from these two lists, for agreement.
If you need help agreeing these specific subjects please use the mediator to help you. This might be by way of a pre-mediation online joint meeting to specifically agree this agenda or to do so right at the beginning of the online mediation session.
There are various approaches to consider. Whatever works best for everyone !
4.Agree a statement of good intent
This document can also double up as a mutual statement of good intent in which you both express a commitment to using your best efforts in mediation to focus on X, Y, Z (the subjects you wish to focus on)
Or you could both prepare a separate statement of good intent as well as try to agree a short written agenda for the mediation ie I wish to focus on X, Y, Z
Have a look at the example Statement of intent on the web page before you prepare your own