Getting People to the Table
One of the hardest parts of many mediation processes is just getting people to agree to participate. As is explained in more detail in the section on Limits to Agreement: Better Alternatives people are unlikely to be willing to negotiate if they think they can get a better outcome by using
Good Timing–Identifying “Ripe” Times for Negotiations
The timing of negotiations is often critical to their success. Conflict scholars and negotiators often use the concept of “ripeness,” comparing negotiation to fruit. If a fruit is picked too early, it will not be ready for eating; however, if it is picked to late, it will be inedible as well.