Saturday, September 15, 2012
Week 4: Q1
I believe that communication majors would make the best mediators out of all careers choices because we are familiar with the processes and the different ways in which people communicate. We have learned or are learning about how to have an unbiased standpoint in most situations. Communication majors, especially dealing with conflict, have to be able to step back out of the situation and look at it from a different point of view. When people are angry, frustrated, or upset this is not possible which can lead to the conflict in the first place. This is not something that cannot be done if not practiced enough which is what I believe sets us apart from other careers. Lawyers, for example, are used to fighting for one side of the argument over the other. They are trying to prove that their side is the right one and the other one is wrong. The mediator needs to be able to hear both sides of the story to come up with a resolution that would be best for both parties.
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I completely agree with you, that communication majors make the best mediators. As communication majors we learn so much about how to communicate, how to listen and how others communicate. We understand when people put up barriers and know how to get through to them because of our communication skills; these skills are so important in mediation. As you mentioned lawyer tend to focus on one side and not the other, but mediators need to know how to be neutral and listen to both sides. From experience, it is hard to put aside my feelings while listening to both parties, but as a mediator that is something that you need to master.
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