Digital natives will not understand the meaning of this reflection but I think it is necessary to make a brief but intense reflection, of the indisputable adaptation that the conflict managers They must be considered in the short term.
Let us not forget that the self-employed professionals depend on their clients and above all, the target to whom their work is directed: in the medium term our clients carry out their daily lives in the virtual world (they hire services, interact, purchase products, select homes, etc.)
With this panorama, conflict managers need Create a product suitable for your potential customers.
Effort of the mediators
These lines try to recognize the effort that many teams of mediators are doing in many corners of the world to use ODR mechanisms (online dispute resolution) to introduce mechanisms of a telematic nature to provide their services because without a doubt, they will occupy the first place by knowledge in mediation in the virtual field.
But although it is true that the most exciting thing is inclusion of electronic media In our work I am concerned that no efforts are made for adaptation to the virtual environment of mediators and a direct application of face-to-face work is carried out to work in virtual spaces.
Adaptation to the virtual world of mediators
From my humble position, I believe that provision of services through electronic means requires adaptation of tools, strategies, techniques and, above all, the attitude of the mediator who works in the virtual world.
The work schemes They change because the sources of information also do so. An example is the identification of the conflict, which in this context must be determined as little or no non-verbal communication.
Elements like the response time or tailored messages of the mediator change because the work of conflict management will acquire a new characteristic, the asynchronous element.
And likewise, I think that not all electronic media They should be used without judgment in online conflict management.
Apply at this time the functionality principleThat is, the mediator must work prior to carrying out the mediation on the electronic means that the parties validate for the development of the work sessions.
Therefore, also the order form for services in mediation or start-up contract, It must contain the tools that the parties consider valid for the development of the mediation (emails, chat, videoconference, etc.)
Without escaping from the face-to-face model
The effort to adapt is indisputable but we should not escape from it. face-to-face model that in many cases that It is part of the work in mediation, It will be more suitable than the virtual one and not because of the theme, but because of the profile of the client who probably handles classic mediation work better on certain occasions.
Now there remains a most interesting job in which we can create an adapted procedure to the new ones virtual concerns of our clients to allow us to create spaces of trust and security where the parties can deal with what worries them, their problem.
If you want to acquire the necessary skills to provide your mediation services through electronic media, you can do it through the specialty of online mediation (ODR).
