duces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short-In the recent years, women have transformed from homemaker to a builder and ultimate decision maker in hiring contractors. This trend has been caused because of the labor shortage in the construction field and increasing number of households headed by single women. The introduction of women into this field can be a barrier for the construction mediator in resolving disputes, where for years the field was dominated by men. Mediators have to recognize that men and women negotiate differently. If the mediator uses the ‘one size' fits all approach, his mediation will go down in defeat.

Research has shown that women out perform men when they are negotiating on behalf of someone else, such as a client or on behalf of an employer. Women more often than men take a ‘collaborative' or cooperative approach to negotiation that has been shown to produce agreements that are better for both sides. Women are more likely than men to listen to the needs and concerns of the other side, communicate their own priorities and pressures, and try to find solutions that benefit all parties-to find the win/win solutions. This approach not only leads to better outcomes for everyone, it often produces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short-

this field can be a barrier for the construction mediator in resolving disputes, where for years the field was dominated by men. Mediators have to recognize that men and women negotiate differently. If the mediator uses the ‘one size' fits all approach, his mediation will go down in defeat.

Research has shown that women out perform men when they are negotiating on behalf of someone else, such as a client or on behalf of an employer. Women more often than men take a ‘collaborative' or cooperative approach to negotiation that has been shown to produce agreements that are better for both sides. Women are more likely than men to listen to the needs and concerns of the other side, communicate their own priorities and pressures, and try to find solutions that benefit all parties-to find the win/win solutions. This approach not only leads to better outcomes for everyone, it often produces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short-

Research has shown that women out perform men when they are negotiating on behalf of someone else, such as a client or on behalf of an employer. Women more often than men take a ‘collaborative' or cooperative approach to negotiation that has been shown to produce agreements that are better for both sides. Women are more likely than men to listen to the needs and concerns of the other side, communicate their own priorities and pressures, and try to find solutions that benefit all parties-to find the win/win solutions. This approach not only leads to better outcomes for everyone, it often produces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short- sides. Women are more likely than men to listen to the needs and concerns of the other side, communicate their own priorities and pressures, and try to find solutions that benefit all parties-to find the win/win solutions. This approach not only leads to better outcomes for everyone, it often produces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short-duces creative solutions to problems that might have been overlooked by men taking a more competitive or adversarial approach. Also, by looking for those win/win solutions, women tend to preserve and enhance long-term business relationships-they don't burn as many bridges as men who focus on short-term gains. Women work harder, smarter but do not boast about their accomplishments.

Armed with increasing knowledge, experience in the building industry and their different negotiation skills, women can pose a different barrier to the male construction mediator. Women are more collaborative or cooperative in mediation and to many mediators this may signal that the woman is not proficient on the expert subject matter or are caving in because they or their client is liable. Many mediators discount what a woman in the construction field has to say and invariably pressures them on giving more money to settle or to drop their demand. This immediately creates a barrier for the mediator, because a woman is incensed by this type of treatment and will become more resistant to settling. Mediators are impressed by a man's aggressive behavior, who mandates that they or their client did nothing wrong, who tells war stories on what a great builder or attorney they are, and will not budge off their position unless a mediator tells them to the contrary. The mediator assumes that the male has a better handle and superior knowledge on subject matter and a woman's style of negotiati