Introduction: Do mediators have a responsibility to solve the problem at hand? Silke Hansen of Community Relations Service recommends that mediators often play more of a facilitative role.

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It Is Not Your Job To Solve The Problem
Silke Hansen
Senior Conciliation Specialist, Community Relations Service
Interviewed by
Julian Portilla
2003
Realizing it is not your job to solve the problem - it is your job to help the parties solve the problem, is a key piece. It is not your job to decide who is right or who is wrong. It is not your job to come up with the solution. It is your job to help the parties realize what they're real interests are and help them work out a solution. Inevitably when they start with the role play, they go and as an investigator. They try to sell solutions before they even understand what the issues and needs are. That is so important.
Beyond Intractability Version II
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