Week 31: Situational Role Play

Situational role plays are used to bring absolute clarity about a concept. These are used in

1. Refresher Courses 
2. Advanced training
3. In Forty hours’ training in mediation  

Steps to be followed

1. Pre-briefing in situational role plays:
   • Only a select group is requested to come on the stage to enact the roles. Other participants are requested to observe.
   • Entire role play is not asked to be played.
   • The gist of the general facts of the case is informed by the trainer to the trainees in 3-5 minutes’ time.
   • The situation which needs to be addressed is explained.
   • The concept which is being addressed is made known to the participants.
   • The participants playing the role of parties/third parties/advocates are given specific instructions as to what needs to be done. Some times, a script needs to be prepared and given to the participants.
   • The mediator is asked to handle the situation.
2. Trainer watches the participant playing the role of mediator.
3. Corrects the mediator by adopting techniques and skills of coaching.
4. Where a given participant mediator does not handle the situation, another trainee/participant is asked to step in and take the mediation process forward.
5. If no one knows the technique, then the trainer or any other co-trainer steps in to play the role of mediator.

EXAMPLE

Situational role play on the concept of Confidentiality.

(This role play is to be enacted at the end of the session on confidentiality.)

General facts of the case in brief:  

Hindu Sister who has married a Christian has filed a suit for partition against her two brothers claiming 1/3^rd share. Suit schedule property is a single house which is the self acquired property of the deceased father of disputing parties. Mother of disputing parties is also dead.

Defendants’ case:

They are Hindus. Both brother are bachelors. Sister has got married to Christian. Hence she is not entitled to share. Sister is very rich. 

During private session:

Sister to mediator: “I do not want any share in property. I want my brothers’ love. But Mediator Sir, please do not disclose it to my brothers.”

During private session:

Brothers to Mediator: “We have no objection for giving the entire house to our sister. We are both suffering from terminal illness and may not survive beyond 2 years. After our death let our sister take the entire property. But Mediator Sir, please do not disclose about our illness to our sister at any cost.”

Challenge to the mediator:

How does the mediator handle this situation?

1. Does mediator take permission from the disputing parties to reveal confidential information?
2. What if they refuse to give permission?
3. What if one gives permission and the opponent party does not give permission?
4. What if both the parties give  right to the mediator to use his discretion either to reveal confidential information or not ?
5. Whether mediator uses the technique of setting an atmosphere in such a way as to see to it that the confidential information is exchanged between the parties by themselves?         

Preparation

1. General facts in brief must be  prepared and kept ready for circulation to all.
2. Participants playing the role of  disputing parties must be given the script  in advance.
3. Participants playing the role of disputing parties must be asked to reflect each of the 5 situations noted under the head of challenge to the mediator.

Total time duration

10 minutes

ADVANTAGES

1. Trainer’s professionalism gets reflected.
2. The theoretical and practical aspects of given concept gets blended bringing clarity to the participants.
3. The required point for consideration alone is touched.
4. Time is saved.

CHALLENGES TO THE TRAINER

1. Trainer must be ready with several such situational role plays on various concepts.The materials must be kept ready.
2. At times, trainer may have to think on the spot and create a situational role play and get the concept to reach the participants with clarity.
3. Trainer may have to use experiences from practical mediation to prepare the material for such situational role plays.

“The difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.”

Charles R Swindoll – Pastor and Author

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