Using essential mediation skills a neutral chair will reduce the risk of conflict becoming destructive and can provide a moderating influence where factional positions have developed. the better way service offers a means of facilitating communication in a wide range of circumstances that require both a sensitive and a pragmatic approach.

FICM Experts have a unique skill-set combining extensive mediator practice, professional background and industry knowledge.

The benefits of having a neutral chairman include the ability to reduce the risk of overt confrontation, to provide a moderating influence and to provide summaries of points made and positions reached. MCN has unparalleled experience in facilitating dialogue in a diverse range of demanding situations. Our consultants have a unique skill-set combining extensive mediator practice, professional background and industry knowledge.

Today more and more businesses and boards are using our service. The value of having a neutral chair to assist with a difficult meeting of a board of directors, partners, department members or committee members in an organisation is often under-estimated. Inviting an external neutral chair to run such a meeting adds credibility to the occasion, minimizes concerns about its being dominated by anyone, and frees everyone to make a full contribution.

The aim of neutral chairing may be to:

Enable finality – a decision, action plan or agreement

Deliberately plan for open-ended dialogue, where the process allows voices to be heard and issues raised, enables the next steps to be taken or devises a framework for future action

Be the sole process used or to combine with other dispute resolution techniques such as mediation, early neutral evaluation or adjudication.