COMMENTARY
Last week’s strategy of locking West Virginia legislators in separate rooms was a unique approach to resolving the state budget standoff. It had the additional advantage of Gov. Jim Justice being able to rely on his alter egos of Jimmy and James to serve as both good cop and bad cop.
But if the governor continues this strategy without resorting to bright spotlights, barking dogs or food deprivation, he might consider the alternate approach of making mediation comfortable.
I’m an excellent Googler, so I pulled up some tips on how to prepare a room for optimal mediation results.
A handy site called “The Negotiation Room” advises choosing a room carefully and making sure it is properly set up. Here are some examples of the tips:
Light: “Light has a clear effect on people. Daylight is best for keeping them awake and fresh. Windows on two sides of the room will dispel shadows, allowing you to use natural light only.”
Space: “The raw space in which you hold the negotiation can act to relax or press in on negotiators. Generally more space is better… Whenever there are several people in the negotiation and when they are sitting around a table, remember that they need space to get up and not be squashed as they find their place.”
Communication space: This is my favorite and, I hope, the governor’s too because it includes advice on #whiteboards. “Sometimes having a flipchart or whiteboard where ideas can be penned and impromptu presentations can be made can be useful.”
But what about the negotiators themselves? Shouldn’t they bring their own creature comforts to relax and clear their minds before considering tax implications or the out years in the budget?
Another handy site called “Mediate” offers a take on that:
“Parties may also draw on their own resources by bringing talismans for feelings of safety. The symbolism of a talisman is usually meaningful only to them. Still, I suggest you check with all parties before mediation to learn whether they plan to bring materials or objects that could be perceived as a threat to the safety of others.”
That last bit seems like excellent insight, particularly as we move toward the one-month mark from the possibility of a government shutdown.
All the advice is kinda funny, but these negotiations have been not only about public policy but also personalities and their comfort level – with each other and with the issues at hand.
If the various negotiating parties wind up creating acceptable public policy in a timely manner, I know that would make me more comfortable.