Page 36 - Becoming a Better Negotiator

The employee, on the other hand, left the employer because he was passed over for promotion, or was slighted in some other way, and believes he should be free to work where he is respected. So, he goes to work for a competitor just outside the geographic or other limits of the non- compete or he gets a legal opinion that the non-compete is unenforceable.
Both narratives lead to “legitimate” and hardened positions. The narrative mediator’s job is to help both parties explore the underpinnings of these narratives to open the legitimacy of alternative narratives.
Narrative Mediation also requires the mediator to examine the effect of his or her own socio-cultural context on the competing narratives. Good mediators are neutral in the ordinary sense, but everyone interprets facts through the lens of their own narrative. Recognition of this fact helps the mediator understand the varying narratives and remain neutral.
True Narrative practice is somewhat at odds with our problem-solving orientation. However, it is a rare neutral who has not heard competing conflict stories based upon the same facts. Using Narrative Mediation techniques to help parties consider an alternative narrative in some cases can be a powerful tool toward resolution.
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