Week 41: Applying the Technique of ‘What Next?’

One of the wonderful skills that can be used by a trainer while giving training in mediation is applying the technique of “What next?”

This technique is more useful while giving forty hours’ training in mediation.

Trainer should not forget that ultimate aim of forty hours’ training in mediation is to enable the trainees to handle mediations practically. Trainees must be equipped to  conduct mediations on their own. Different techniques and skills introduced to the trainees by the trainers have to be applied by the Mediators depending on the situations and circumstances, they come across.

 Two elements are always required to be known by any mediator:

1. What should the mediator do next?
2. What can the mediator do next?

This technique of ‘what next’ equips the potential mediators in both these fields.

Example

TOPIC – Opening Statement

After explaining what are all the elements of Opening statement, and after demonstrating an opening statement, trainer can make the trainees understand all the elements of Opening statement by following the technique of ‘what next’ as follows:

Trainer: After greeting and seating what do you do?

Trainees: Self-Introduction

Trainer: what next?

Trainees: Introduction of participants

Trainer: What next…?

Trainees: Opening statement

Trainer: what do you say first?

Trainees: What is mediation?

Trainer: What Next?

Trainee: Role of mediator

Trainer: What next ..

…….

……..

‘Method of Choral Response’

Choral response is a verbal response strategy.

The response can be given by the trainees  as an answer to a question or repetition of what the trainer has said .

Where the trainees do not respond, trainer can give them ‘cues’.

While using the technique of ‘What next’, trainer encourages the trainees to respond in unison, following the method of ‘Choral response.’   

Technique of What next is asked to be adapted in practical mediation

In joint session Party 1 speaks about the facts of dispute

Trainer: What do you do next?

Trainees: Paraphrase and Summarize

Trainer : and…….( Trainer is providing a cue that there is something more..)

Trainee: reflect ..( identify the interest and reflect the emption)  

In demonstrative role plays:

After the joint session when the mediator is about to call one of the parties for private session:

Trainer: What do you do now in private session?

Trainee mediator: I will ask this question…

Trainer:What next…..?

Trainee………….

Trainer: What next…..?

Trainee……………….

Thus trainer makes the mediator understand the importance of planning for each of the sessions, well before starting each of the sessions. Use of  technique of ‘what next’ helps a mediator to master three skills, (i) Setting an agenda (ii) Setting an atmosphere (iii) Streamlining the negotiation.

Mediator understands the importance of taking a compulsory break of at least a few minutes after every session, sit alone, work with paper and pen, chalk out the strategy and then proceed with the next session.

Advantages

By use of this technique trainer can help the trainees retain the procedural components and guard them against diluting the process requisites.

Choral response method helps the trainer to keep all the trainees engaged.

Repetition in unison helps in positive reinforcement.

Once you have mastered a technique, you hardly need look at a recipe again and can take off on your own.

            Julia Child – American Cooking teacher and author

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