Verify credential Find a Neutral
THE PROFESSIONAL DISCIPLINES

Different Neutral roles answer different professional questions.

Neutral Practice is not one procedure. It includes evaluative, facilitative, continuing, process-stewardship and decisional functions. The right starting point is the function the situation needs and the authority the Neutral should have.

Explore practices Choose the right role
THE MANDATE BEFORE THE METHOD Start with what the Neutral is being trusted to do.

The professional role should be selected from the need, not from the process name people happen to know best.

CLARITY Evaluate

Independent assessment without automatically transferring the decision.

MOVEMENT Facilitate / mediate / conciliate

Independent support where participants retain control of the agreed outcome.

DECISION Determine / adjudicate

Authority moves to the Neutral only within the expressly authorised decisional mandate.

ONE PROFESSION

The common thread is not the procedure. It is the independent professional position.

Neutrality can be useful before conflict, at a difficult decision, through a live relationship, during negotiated resolution or inside formal adjudication. The professional obligations remain recognisable even as the mandate changes.

PRACTICE MAP

Choose by function first.

Every practice page should make authority, output and professional boundaries clear before it presents people.

ASSESS

Neutral Evaluation

Independent professional assessment for clarity before a decision.

 MOVE

Facilitation

Structured group or relationship process where participants still own the decision.

 RESOLVE

Mediation

Negotiated resolution supported by an independent mediator.

 PROPOSE

Conciliation

Facilitative resolution in which the conciliator may play a more proposal-oriented role where the mandate allows.

 CONTINUE

Standing Neutral

Continuing independent capability across a project, contract or relationship.

 CHAIR

Neutral Chairing

Independent stewardship of boards, committees and difficult multi-party process.

 LISTEN

Ombuds Practice

Independent confidential or informal channel within the limits of the institutional mandate.

 DETERMINE

Expert Determination

Specialist decisional authority over a defined question.

 PROJECT

Dispute Board Practice

Contract-linked board process for live project disputes.

 ADJUDICATE

Arbitral Practice

Formal adjudication by a tribunal acting under an arbitral mandate.
AUTHORITY TEST

How much authority should move to the Neutral?

The mandate should make that answer visible before the work begins.

Process support Participants retain substantive control.
Advisory assessment The Neutral evaluates, but the user decides.
Process authority The Neutral chairs or stewards defined procedure.
Defined decisional authority The Neutral determines a specific question.
Formal adjudicative authority A tribunal decides within the applicable arbitral framework.
THE PROFESSIONAL FOUNDATION

Different roles. Common professional obligations.

Independence, impartiality, integrity, competence, mandate discipline, fair process, confidentiality and professional boundaries travel across the practice family even when authority changes.

STANDARD Neutral Practice Standard™

The common professional foundation.

 INDEPENDENCE Conflict & disclosure

Current professional independence should remain visible.

 MANDATE Mandate design

State role, authority, information and output clearly.

 BOUNDARIES Professional boundaries

Know when the role changes and re-mandating is required.

 PEOPLE Find the professional

Move from the function into verified professional capability.
NEUTRAL PRACTICES

Do not start with the process you know. Start with the independent function the situation is missing.

Choose the role, define the mandate, then search for the professional whose practice, context and current standing fit the work.

Choose the role Find a Neutral