A FRAMEWORK BEFORE YOU ESCALATE Before initiating formal action, ask yourself:
1. What is the total value at stake, financial and otherwise? Consider not only money owed or damages claimed but also the cost of your time and the future impact on your business. 2.Is your documentation available? Can you produce emails, contracts, maintenance logs, or payment histories that clearly support your perspective? A strong paper trail can speed resolution or reveal a need to reconsider your position. 3.Have you explored direct, informal resolutions? An offer to negotiate through ADR can often achieve more than a legal notice. People often respond better to options in threatening situations. 4.What precedent will your decision set? Will letting this go invite further issues or does escalation risk damaging a generally productive relationship?
Taking the time to answer these questions can provide clarity to your process and facilitate faster resolutions.
THE POWER OF EARLY ACTION
Disputes do not typically blow up overnight. Often, there are warning signs: slow responses, missed deadlines, vague commitments, or frustration bubbling beneath the surface. Acting early can prevent disputes from escalating. Recent data shows that early intervention works. A 2022 study cited by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, revealed that 87% of landlord-
tenant mediation cases settled successfully when handled before formal escalation. That number dropped to just 52% once litigation had begun. This insight is even more relevant today. Dispute resolution is not just about how you settle problems; it is about how you set up relationships to avoid them in the first place.
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