Legal Choices to Help with Communications

Collaboration, mediation, arbitration, litigation - they all sound so complex! Perhaps defining each would help to solve the mystery.

The American Heritage dictionary states that collaboration is to work together, especially in a joint intellectual effort and to cooperate reasonably, as with an enemy occupation force in one's country. I have noticed the word collaboration appears more frequently than ever in meetings, project planning and even relationships. It implies that individuals can use their own skills and abilities to accomplish goals.

Mediation, according to WordNet is negotiation to resolve differences conducted by some impartial party or intervening for the purpose of bringing about a settlement. Sometime the mediator is a trained professional and sometimes s/he is a wise and experienced individual such as a mother who objectively resolves problems between siblings.

Arbitration is described by Investopedia as an informal hearing regarding a dispute...judged by a group of people (generally three) who have been selected by an impartial panel. Once a decision has been reached, there is no further appeal process. We frequently hear this term when professional sports teams are negotiating contracts with their athletes. Typically, one party aims unrealistically high and the other one aims really low, and the settlement occurs somewhere in the middle.

Litigation is a legal proceeding in a court; a judicial contest to determine and enforce legal rights. This is the typical justice system drama that involves a judge, jury, lawyers and court room.

Everyone has problems and sometimes they can be worked out through planning or talking with friends and family members. At other times it is helpful to gain the assistance of an objective person or group of people who will listen to both sides of the issue and then direct a process for resolution.

Usually the most expensive and time-consuming form of problem solving involves our Justice system which, in itself, has a number of divisions and levels for appeal.

The more that I work with people, the more that I realize how much trouble could be resolved if we each had better communication skills. Dictionary.com claims that this involves the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs.

Perhaps, rather than focusing on trying to find an appropriate method for solving problems after they occur, we should be putting more emphasis on learning how to communicate better as individuals, groups, societies and countries to prevent misunderstandings.

How can you improve communications in your life?