The corpus presents three step lists for mediation, with seven steps in the governance article, seven in the community-justice article and eight in the psychology article, and they cover the same ground in a slightly different order. A community should choose one list, write it down, train its mediators to it and use it every time, since consistency matters more than which list it is.
Part of Community Conflict Resolution
Comparing the seven-step mediation process in this setting with the other versions in the corpus, so a community can adopt one.
Same Ground, Different Order
The mechanics are written in full in Mediation, Mediation Process and Conflict Resolution; they are not repeated here. This table shows where the three lists put the same stages.
| Stage | Governance (7) | Community justice (7) | Psychology (8) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calm down / separate | de-escalation tier before step 1 | step 1: separate and cool down | step 1: intake, held separately |
| Ground rules | step 1 | step 2 | step 2 |
| Each side’s account | step 2: opening statements | step 3: each states a position | step 3: uninterrupted statements |
| List issues | step 3 | not a separate step | not a separate step |
| Needs, interests | step 4 | step 4: underlying need | step 4: common ground (shared aims, not needs) |
| Options | step 5 | step 5 | step 5 |
| Agreement | step 6: negotiate | step 6: negotiate | step 6: evaluate and agree |
| Record | step 7: document and sign | step 7: formalise | step 7: document |
| Follow-up | one week, one month, three months | one week | step 8: one week |
See Step-by-Step Mediation Framework for the decision points in the eight-step version.
What Differs and Why It Matters
- Where the cool-down sits. This article’s parent puts it inside mediation, as step 1, with a wait of at least 30 minutes; the governance article puts it before mediation as 15-30 minutes; the psychology article gives 10. These are unsourced and different, as The Pause Technique discusses.
- Whether the first meeting is separate. The psychology and governance versions meet each party alone first; the community-justice version has the cool-down plus a support person.
- Whether issues are listed. Only the governance list writes the issues down where both can see them. It is a good habit and costs little.
- Whether common ground is its own step. Only the psychology list has it; see Finding Common Ground.
- Follow-up. One week in two lists and a longer schedule in the third; see Follow-Up & Accountability.
Method: Adopt One List
Step 1: Choose. Pick a list; a sensible default is the seven steps in the parent article combined with the governance habit of writing down the issues.
Step 2: Write it on a card and keep a copy with every mediator.
Step 3: Add logistics. Who attends, where (see Environmental Controls), how long each party speaks, and who keeps the record. The governance article suggests 5 minutes each for opening statements as usually sufficient and has the party who filed the grievance speak first; that is its suggestion, not a researched figure.
Step 4: Train to it. Role-play from start to finish.
Step 5: Use it every time. If parties see different procedures for different people, they will doubt fairness.
Step 6: Review yearly. Keep what worked, change what did not, and record the change.
Common Mistakes
- Mixing lists mid-session.
- Skipping the record. Without writing, memory diverges; see Agreement Documentation.
- Using mediation for everything. Some cases are unsuitable; see Proportional Consequences.
What’s Next
- Learn next: Agreement Enforcement — after the signature
- Combine with: Selecting Mediators — who runs the process