Yes the numbers are good – but mediation is simply the right thing to do

I’m very glad at the numbers that are appearing to make the business case for mediation. They help secure and protect budgets, market providers and give credibility to a profession in its early years. I also confess a deep skepticisim about ROI (Return On Investment) numbers and am not entirely convinced precisely how many days each mediation saves, or sicknesses and absences it prevents, or the exact cost benefit considering inputs and outputs and added value.

Since the first mediation I conducted nearly 25 years ago I’ve known mediation works. I’ve seen the positive outcomes, the relief on faces and the fog of despondency and self-doubt lifting. We’ve asked the participants immediately after mediation, three months later and even participated in customer research and parties say they like mediation and would recommend it to others. This of course has a knock on effect on the mediator’s sense of well-being and value, and ability to continue being of value to future disputants.

I feel it is a sign of immaturity in the mediation profession that we have become obsessed with the business case for mediation. The recession has created a dog-fight over numbers with each provider boasting more successes and savings than the next. Mediation numbers have the potential to persuade, but we also to inspire potential users and opponents by conviction, inspiration and the passion that mediation is simply the right thing for mature confident organisations to do.