24 May La Vanguardia interviews Daniel Sererols Villalón
La Vanguardia interviews Daniel Sererols Villalón: the big mistake between neighbours is waiting too long
A few days ago, I had the opportunity to take part in an interview published in La Vanguardia about neighbourhood mediation and community mediation. It was an interesting conversation because it allowed many people to get closer to a reality that I frequently observe in my daily work as a conflict mediator and lawyer in Barcelona: most coexistence problems do not begin as major conflicts.
They often begin as small situations:
A noise that bothers someone.
A conversation that never takes place.
A feeling of lack of respect.
An argument within a homeowners’ association.
A disagreement between neighbours.
A tension within an association or community environment.
And little by little, what seemed like an isolated issue grows until it occupies much more space than it should.
The headline chosen by La Vanguardia summed up a situation that I see repeated frequently:
“The big mistake between neighbours is letting months or years pass, accumulating resentment, and asking for help when there is no trust left between the parties.”
And this is probably one of the most important issues when we talk about community mediation and neighbourhood mediation.
Many people seek help when the conflict has already been present for far too long.
When reproaches have already appeared.
When labels have already been created.
When the people involved have practically stopped speaking to each other.
When every gesture is interpreted through distrust.
And then the original problem, in reality, stops being the true conflict.
Because the conflict no longer revolves around noise, a difficult meeting, or a specific disagreement.
The conflict becomes the relationship itself.
Community mediation goes far beyond a homeowners’ association
Community mediation is sometimes identified only with problems within homeowners’ associations, but its scope is much broader.
Community mediation can intervene, among other situations, in:
- conflicts between neighbours;
- coexistence problems;
- disagreements within homeowners’ associations;
- tensions within neighbourhood associations;
- conflicts between organisations;
- problems arising from the use of shared spaces;
- coexistence situations in neighbourhoods or community environments;
- disagreements affecting the daily life of a community.
Ultimately, we are talking about situations where people who share spaces, interests, or relationships need to recover something that has often been lost: the possibility of talking and listening to one another.
Barcelona and its metropolitan area are particularly diverse and dynamic environments. We share buildings, public spaces, facilities, and very different ways of understanding coexistence.
This causes conflicts to arise relatively easily.
And the appearance of conflicts does not necessarily mean that something is functioning badly.
The problem usually arises when spaces for dialogue disappear.
When is it advisable to turn to a neighbourhood conflict mediator?
There is no exact answer, but there is one thing that experience has taught me: the earlier intervention takes place, the greater the possibilities of redirecting the situation.
Many people wait while thinking:
“It will solve itself.”
“I prefer not to give it importance.”
“I don’t want to make things worse.”
Meanwhile, discomfort continues to grow.
And what could have been addressed through a conversation ends up becoming a much more difficult situation.
Asking for help early is not a sign of weakness.
In many cases, it is an intelligent decision.
As a mediator of neighbourhood and community conflicts in Barcelona, I have been able to see that intervening in time makes it possible to work not only on the specific problem, but also on the relationship and future coexistence.
Because when people will continue sharing spaces, streets, buildings, or neighbourhoods, finding sustainable solutions is often more important than winning a specific argument.
A final reflection
I sincerely thank La Vanguardia, and especially Joel Sáez, for dedicating space to community mediation and dialogue-based conflict resolution. Giving visibility to these tools helps more people understand that alternatives exist and that seeking help before reaching extreme situations can make a significant difference.
If you are experiencing a neighbourhood conflict, a difficult situation within a homeowners’ association, or a coexistence problem and would like to explore options, you can contact me.
Daniel Sererols Villalón
Conflict Mediator and Lawyer
Registered with the Ministry of Justice, the Centre for Mediation of Catalonia and the ICAB
Barcelona
“Interview originally published in La Vanguardia”