Podcast Episode Show Notes / Description:

• How can you truly know that a mediator is impartial and a neutral third party?
• Mediators are often called neutrals because they are not biased toward one side or the other.
• But knowing people are human with fears, anxieties, and suspicions, how do you trust your mediator is impartial?
• Everyone, including mediators, has goals and intentions.
• It's actually untrue to say a mediator is completely impartial; instead, a good mediator is partial to a successful outcome.
• Mediators focus on finding a solution — they are passionate about resolving the conflict.
• The mediation process is voluntary; forced or coerced solutions won’t work.
• Mediators listen carefully to each party, allowing them to vent and share their stories without bias.
• Hearing one party more does not mean the mediator favors them — it’s part of gathering information to understand the full picture.
• Mediators show empathy for both sides, which can sometimes cause suspicion, but their role is to care about everyone involved equally.
• It’s important that mediators fully absorb and understand both parties’ perspectives to help them feel heard and respected.
• You don’t have to lower your guard or pride to care for someone who has hurt you — let the mediator bridge that gap.
• Until both sides feel heard and cared for, no resolution is possible.
• The mediator’s job is to understand what matters most to both people and find where their interests overlap.
• This deep understanding is not a betrayal to either side — it’s the foundation of resolution.
• Impartiality is built into the mediation process but a good mediator is also passionate and partial to reaching a resolution.
• Mediators feel like they’ve failed if no resolution is reached, because the ongoing conflict impacts the parties far more than the mediator.
• Mediators want to succeed because they want to help you move forward, not just close the case and move on.