Week 13: Moving on the Track

Moving on the track is considered as one of the ‘leading techniques’ of a trainer. It is also considered as a strengthening technique. When a trainer chooses a particular topic for presentation, anything that he/she speaks should relate or should have relevance to that topic. Nothing unconnected to the topic should be presented. Often, we see some trainers beginning with a topic moving on to several other topics and ending with an altogether different topic. Trainer has to learn to work within the boundaries.

Some questions that would help in mastering this technique is to ask the following questions while preparing for the presentation:

Stage 1:

How do I begin?

What do I tell next, next, next?

What question should I ask to open a topic or sub-topic?

Which example am I going to give and where? 

Which exercise am I going to introduce and when?

Which story am I going to tell and when?

What question/s am I going to ask? To whom?

How do I summarize?

How am I going to conclude?  

Stage 2:

Are there chances of misunderstanding the examples given by me?

Is the exercise appropriate? Will the trainees be able to complete it on time?

How short can I make this case study/case history?

What is the key message I want to convey in a single line at the end of each story/exercise/example?

Stage 3:

If the trainees are unable to understand a given example, exercise what other example/exercise can I give?

What would be the probable questions from the audience?

Trainer should have a clear understanding of the topic in general and specific sub topics.  As training transmits a blend of theoretical and practical knowledge, trainer has to think many a times before explaining a concept. He/she should be very clear as to why a given example is used to make a given concept clear. An inappropriate example, case history, story would give a clear indication to the trainees that the trainer is not moving on the right track.

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Example:

DEFINING THE TRACK

Topic: Conflict

1. What is conflict – What is not conflict?
2. Difference between fight, dispute and conflict; Examples
3. How does a conflict arise?
4. Source, Cause, Types of conflict; examples
5. Different styles of conflict. Examples coupled with questions, asking the trainees to identify the style. Eliciting examples from the trainees in advanced mediation training programs, on different styles.
6. Difference between managing conflict and resolution of conflict.
7. Techniques to resolve the conflict – Identify a specific technique and explain how that technique can be used. Give 3-liner exercise and ask the trainees to resolve the conflict using the technique introduced.
8. Techniques adapted by individuals to manage the conflict.

Question for discussion:

1. Should mediator resolve the conflict?
2. Is it necessary to address the conflict in all disputes?

SOME ‘OFF THE TRACK’ MOVEMENTS NOTICED BY THE TRAINEES:

1. A trainer was telling conflict is an emotion, at times he said  it is a feeling and many other terminologies not understood by the trainer were used to explain what conflict is. 
   Conclusion by Trainees:
   Trainer does not know the distinction between emotion, feeling, and situation.  Trainer does not know what is conflict.
2. A very lengthy case history is given, with all unwanted details, introducing many characters in the story.
   Conclusion by trainees:
   They lost interest in the details, could not remember who is who out of ten characters introduced and hence, they moved away from the track, while the trainer was struck with his story and staying on the track.  
   This mistake is known as “SITTING ON THE TRACK”.  Some trainers get struck at one point and keep on revolving around that point without moving forward and do not cover the other aspects to be covered during their presentation.  
3. Example had nothing to do with the topic of conflict.
4. Trainer did not know the difference between managing conflict and resolving conflict.
5. No techniques were suggested as to how a conflict is to be resolved.
6. Did not know the distinction between avoidance and denial  and between avoiding and ignoring.

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HOW DO WE TRAIN OURSELVES TO MOVE ONLY ON THE TRACK?

1. Define the track CAREFULLY.
2. Remove all obstacles.
3. Make effective use of the “delete key”.
4. Never hesitate to change the course and get back on the right track.

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(All copy rights reserved by the author S. Susheela)