I continue to be pleasantly surprised by the use of online technology as a platform for successful mediations. I recently put it to the test with a 5 party complex mediation, and with some creativity around form and process it worked remarkably well and settlement was reached. It raises questions for me I haven’t yet got the answers to, as I feel conflicted with all I hold important about the value of face to face meetings and all that we can gain from reading body language and the presence of those in a room. Online mediations appear on one level to contradict this. But the fact that it works so well allows for interesting reflection on the power of language, tone of voice, and the minutia of detail that can be picked up when utilising mediation skills in a conversation.
