Week 24: Coaching

Coaching is one of the essential skills of a trainer. More focus is given on this skill in mediation training because it is through coaching the trainees are prepared and strengthened to handle practical mediation. The theoretical and practical aspects of mediation are brought into alignment through coaching.

Coaching has 2 elements in it:

1. Identification as to what needs to be coached.
2. Action plan for fulfilling the need.

3 steps are generally followed in coaching:

1. Assessing  
2. Instructing
3. Monitoring

Assessing:  

Fair Assessment of capabilities of a trainee is to be made by the trainer.

• Areas where corrections are required,
• Areas where concepts must be reinforced,
• Areas where the process techniques must be strengthened, have to be identified by the trainer.

1. Trainer has to make note of the performance of the trainee in all these three above-mentioned areas.
2. The mistake/s and/or errors committed by the trainee must be noted down.
3. Trainer should request the trainee to make note of the assessment done by the trainer
4. The others in the group also can be asked to take note of the assessment done by the trainer   

Instructing

Trainer has to give instructions to the trainee in each of the areas where instructions are required to be given.

It is ideal to give instruction on ‘one on one’ basis. But it is equally desirable to give instruction/s to the trainee mediator in the presence of the group members, so that others can also learn from the coaching.

Instructing should consist of (i) information to the trainee about the mistakes/and/or errors committed. (ii) suggesting remedies as to how the trainee can stand corrected. (iii)  indication to the trainee to stand corrected. 

Trainer should make note of the instructions given to the trainee.

Trainer should request the trainee to take note of the instructions given.

(The others in the group also can be asked to take note of instructions)   

Monitoring

Trainer has to make the trainee replay the corrected process.

Trainer has to watch the trainee and see whether the coaching has resulted in positive reinforcement, and that the trainee is not repeating the same mistakes which were tried to be corrected by the trainer through coaching.

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Example

Trainee Mediator to Party:

1. You have got a very poor case. You will lose in all courts. You will wander like a beggar.
2. It is better to settle down.
3. Accept whatever is being offered.
4. I can help you to get little more than what is offered by your opponent.

Coaching by the trainer using the techniques of assessing, instructing and monitoring

ASSESSING:

Trainer’s assessment:

1. You have got a very poor case. You will lose in all courts.

(Mediator is forming opinion and giving legal advice)

2. You will wander like a beggar.

(Mediator is name calling, and threatening the party)

3. It is better to settle down. Accept whatever is being offered.

(Mediator is giving advice. Mediator is pressurizing.)

4. I can help you to get little more than what is offered by your opponent.

(Mediator is giving assurances)

INSTRUCTING:

Trainer points out the mistakes/errors committed by the trainee as noted in the assessment done by the trainer.

Trainer gives instructions to the trainee as follows:

1. Mr.X can you please avoid giving legal advice? 

2. Can you please avoid forming an opinion?

3. Can you avoid name calling and threatening?

4. Can you please avoid using words or sentences which may be considered by the party as pressurizing?

5. Can you please recollect that mediator cannot give advice and assurances? Please recollect all the empathy blocks in our session on empathy.

MONITORING:

Trainer requests the trainee to re-work on the earlier statements made by him i.e.

(i) You have got a very poor case. You will lose in all courts. You will wander like a beggar (ii) It is better to settle down, (iii) Accept whatever is being offered (iv) I can help you to get little more than what is offered by your opponent.

Trainer monitor’s the trainee mediator’s statements after coaching and makes sure that the mediator does not threaten, pressurize, form and express opinion, give legal advice, and/or name call.

Advantages of Coaching

Helps to assist the trainees to get prepared for actual mediation.

Level of performance of a trainee is increased by finer tuning.

In a short duration trainer attains specific goals focused on certain results.

“Handle your words. Words will handle the situations”

Slamw

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(All Copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)