bernadette willems
Manchester
The Power of Mediation in Business and Relationships
by Bernadette Willems
“I’ve had enough….”
“How do I leave my husband….”
“They are just not listening….”
“How can we stop this from getting ugly….”
“It’ll be lonely this Christmas….”
“We’ve tried everything, and nothing is working….”
“I’ve had enough of life….”
These are just some comments I hear daily in my role as The Business Peacemaker
and The Post-Divorce Specialist at Greater Manchester Mediation Limited.
With more than 25 years of experience as a Family Solicitor, Mediator, Trainer
and Coach in the field of conflict resolution, I help people lead a better life
and a brighter future free from debilitating disputes – thereby helping to
create a better world for all of us.
The key to this is ‘Mediation’. But what is it, and how does it work?
As founder of Greater Manchester Mediation Limited, and as ‘The Business
Peacemaker’ and ‘The Post-Divorce Specialist’, I show my clients primarily how
to communicate with each other. This is vital, as it ensures that vulnerable or
emotionally fragile clients feel heard and empowered, and it rebuilds bridges
between estranged parties.
I am also there to support my clients in navigating the legal process, helping
them understand the requirements of law and to find the best route to resolve
their disputes. In addition, I ensure that they are not overwhelmed by all the
information available and help them determine their best course of action.
Many disputes or problems between individuals, in personal or work relationships
or within teams, are compounded or aggravated because clients do not understand
each other’s way of thinking, together with the legal (and other) options
available to them.
Crucially, with the benefit of this legal knowledge, together with the life and
personal development tools and resources I share with my clients, they can
identify ways of building or maintaining trust, despite the past.
Mediated solutions work better, last longer and cost far less than solutions
imposed by a tribunal or a court, and everyone involved buys into them.
Moreover, they are less adversarial, and Mediation fosters mutual respect
through improved communication.
Mediation can mend and preserve frayed relationships, even when the parties are
extremely angry.
