Neutrality and transparency are two critically important concepts in mediation. What do they mean in the mediation context?
Maybe it is easier to start with what they do not mean. Being neutral is not like neutral on your
automobile gear shift. It does not mean lack of motion, lack of movement or
inertia. Neutral does not mean blasé or like a neutral color that blends and
neutral is not vanilla. In mediation
however, neutrality is key. Neutrality
in mediation means that the mediator is not siding with one or the other party.
Neutrality means that the mediator does not have a stake in the outcome except
to insure that the process is fair, that the clients are fully informed, that
they understand what they are agreeing to and ultimately believe their
agreement is fair and reasonable.
