Your Demeanor Can Affect Your Divorce Mediation

John F. Kennedy once said, "Civility is not a sign of weakness... Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate." Negotiation is a highly valued skill in business, and is perfected over years and years of practice. Though most of us negotiate every day in our personal relationships, it is difficult to muster up the courage to apply the natural skills we possess, when confronted with a dispute with our former or soon-to-be-former spouse. It's the heat of the moment, the high emotions, and the tension that causes us to blunder and stumble, lose our cool, get lost in the weeds of the argument. Your demeanor in the process can mean the difference between a successful or failed mediation.

People often confuse mediation with arbitration, leading to misplaced expectations, and oftentimes, disappointing outcomes. Both mediation and arbitration are forms of alternative dispute resolution methods, designed to resolve conflict between parties without the need for protracted and expensive litigation.

via Your Demeanor Can Affect Your Divorce Mediation | Diane L. Danois, J.D..