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TOT 196- WEEK 196
“ Handling Arguments”
Note: (Objective of this weekly blog post is to help trainer in the field of giving training in Mediation.)
One of the difficult situations for a mediator is to handle the arguments. The arguments may be (i) between the parties,(ii) between the party and third party, (iii) between the advocates representing the respective parties, (iv) between the third parties, (iv) within an individual due to intra personal conflict (v) between any one of these persons and the mediator.
At times, during the training session, a situation leading to an argument may also pop up between / amongst the trainees, or between the trainees and trainer.
Special technique and very refined skills are required to handle such situations.
In advanced trainings, trainer has to equip the mediators to handle such situations.
How is this done?:
CREATING AN UNDERSTANDING
Trainer to use the facilitation method and get inputs from the participants as to (a) what are all the elements found in an argument?
(b) What are the elements of a dialogue?
© What are the elements of a healthy conversation?
d) How to convert argument into a dialogue and then into a healthy conversation resulting in fruitful conversation ending in the resolution of dispute?
Trainer to consolidate the opinions.
Trainer to explain the concept behind each of the four mentioned above and help them to distinguish one from the other.
II. PRACTICAL PART
Trainer to give a simulation exercise through a situational role play.
Create a situation where : (i) Party A argues with Party B ,
ii) Party B argues with the mediator posing all questions that B wants to pose to A
iii) Third party argues with another third party and they both lose emotional control.
III. PRE BRIEFING
Trainer to ask each of the trainee mediators to handle the situation ( through the given role play ) based on the learning from a, b, c, d mentioned above.
IV. COACHING
Trainer to assist the trainees in helping them to move the argument inter se into dialogue and leading it to healthy conversation .
V) DEBRIEFING
Trainer to get inputs from the trainees as to the identification of the elements of arguments, dialogue and conversation , and emotional outbursts if any during the role play.
VI. PREPARTION
Trainer has to prepare very well before giving such exercise/s.
Accurate planning, and preparedness to implement has to be there.
Trainer should have perfect base knowledge as to the distinction between argument , dialogue and conversation.
Situational role play must be prepared with thoughtfulness.
Role play participants must be given a separate pre briefing .
“Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.” Vincent Van Gogh – Famous Dutch Painter.
(All copy rights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 