Cohousing-L Mailing List: Experience with mediators?

[Elizabeth Rosenau (ejrosenau]

Hello,

I’m a member of Compass Cohousing in Langley, British Columbia, Canada.  I’m 
pleased to share with you the exciting news that we broke ground yesterday.  🎉🎉🎉

We have many wonderful members with skill sets that have been so useful in 
helping us get to this point.  Unfortunately two of these valued members have 
struggled to get along and there are potential negative effects for the 
community if the dynamic between them continues to play out as it has.

I am wondering if other cohousing communities have had any experience hiring 
mediators for one on one work.  If so, who did they hire and was the experience 
a good one for all involved?  At Compass, we’ve identified a preference for 
working with a mediator experienced in NVC mediation techniques, but we would 
be open to working with anyone who comes highly recommended.

On a related note, we are beginning to explore the possibility of having “heart 
share meetings”.  The idea is to have a space outside of our regular business 
meetings where people can share how they’re feeling.  Does your community have 
anything like this?  How does it work?  Has it been helpful in increasing 
understanding and empathy between members?  Does it make your business meetings 
more successful?

Thanking you in advance for your responses.

With warmth,

Elizabeth Rosenau, Compass Cohousing.