In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, internationally recognized mediator Srdan Simic shares a story drawn from a divorce mediation that reveals the subtle, human elements at the heart of conflict resolution. A pioneer in mediation and a judge with decades of experience, Simac has handled hundreds of disputes across a wide range of contexts . In this conversation, he reflects on how something as simple as arranging the physical space can shape the tone of a mediation, and how finding even the smallest piece of common ground can begin to shift entrenched positions.
In this episode of Stories Mediators Tell, internationally recognized mediator Srdan Simic shares a story drawn from a divorce mediation that reveals the subtle, human elements at the heart of conflict resolution.
A pioneer in mediation and a judge with decades of experience, Simac has handled hundreds of disputes across a wide range of contexts . In this conversation, he reflects on how something as simple as arranging the physical space can shape the tone of a mediation, and how finding even the smallest piece of common ground can begin to shift entrenched positions.
Through a memorable interaction with a particularly resistant participant, Šimac illustrates how patience, creativity, and empathy can break down barriers that at first seem immovable. Drawing inspiration from The Rolling Stones and their lyric “you can’t always get what you want,” he offers a powerful reminder about expectations, compromise, and what resolution can truly look like.
This episode highlights the art of mediation in practice, and the unexpected ways connection can emerge even in the most personal and challenging disputes.