The Five Pillars of Mediation. Member Spotlight: Said Nachet
Said Nachet is a mediator, negotiator and tax advisor based in Morocco. He joined Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) after learning about the Congress in Bali and has enjoyed belonging to a larger community of mediators passionate about joining forces for the greater good. He is a trained professional negotiator from Harvard University and has also pursued a specialization in negotiation and leadership from Harvard Law School. Prior to entering the mediation field, he was a tax advisor to small and large-scale companies in Morocco. In Boston, he got to meet and work closely with his now mentor, Robert Harris Mnookin, Chair of the Program on Negotiation at Harvard. Said stated, “after connecting with him, I was motivated to learn more about negotiation considering his expertise was on interdisciplinary approaches to negotiation.”
Mediation Partners
After returning from Boston, he and his partner founded the organisation “Mediation Partners” in 2015, which is focused on providing mediation, negotiation, and alternative dispute resolution services to clients all over the world. They also provide administrative assistance to parties engaging in investment contracts. For him, “either party could withdraw from mediation at any time however, the process starts with an agreement to mediate which is what motivates him to continue in the field.” He is also motivated by how relevant and useful these skills are in his everyday life. He stated, “I have used these skills in basic disagreements in my family. Whether it is a conflict rooted in choosing the restaurant we will visit or a decision in their personal life, one must practice empathy, active listening, and get to the bottom of what a choice truly means for them.” He further highlighted, “Listening is a tool in life. You have to understand the deeper interest, which usually goes beyond what you hear with your ear.”
Business Sectors Impact on Mediation
His passion for mediation began from realizing the many complex conflicts in business contracts. He said, “In Morocco, mediation is in huge demand by many companies and it will continue to grow.” His partner has a background in banking and he has a background in tax advising. Therefore, both combined have provided their organisation a strong framework for providing the best quality services to their clients in English, and French.
In this process, skills and tools within the business sector are helpful when addressing conflict. However, there are many underlining factors to consider beyond “what is in front of you” such as the mediator’s qualifications, their profile, and the immediate needs of those entering mediation for the first time. From such experiences, his mediation philosophy has emphasized five central pillars; “neutrality, impartiality, independence, confidentiality, and integrity.” He recommends everyone to truly apply these pillars to their mediation practice for the best outcomes possible.
Article by Elizabeth Gamarra, MBBI Writer