Week 47: Working with Palm Notes

Palm notes can be used:

1. To note down the points
2. To note down the points in sequence
3. To streamline the flow of thoughts
4. To set an agenda
5. To overcome mistakes due to forgetfulness.
6. To streamline negotiation.

Trainers can give a palm note to all the trainees with all the elements to be covered in an opening statement

FORMAT:

1. What is Mediation? 2. Role of Mediator – Neutral 3. Process details: (a) How does the joint session take place?                                            Party 1 tells facts of the dispute                                            Mediator makes restatement                                            Advocate is requested to speak on legal issues Party 2 tells facts of the dispute Mediator makes restatement    Advocate is requested to speak on legal issues    (b) Ground Rules                                   (c) How does the Private Session take place     Confidentiality                                            Time-limit                                   (d) Agreement                                            What if settlement is arrived                                            What if there is no settlement?     4. Advantages:                                  (a) No appeal                                  (b) Refund of court fee                                  (c) Connected cases can be resolved (d) Time, Money and Energy can be saved.

Palm note can also be given to trainees as to what needs to be done in joint session:

Listen to the narrative by Party 1 Make restatement using skill of reflection Listen to the advocate on legal issues Listen to the narrative by Party 2 Make restatement using skill of reflection

Palm note is encouraged to be prepared by the trainees before commencing each private session.

Noting down their proposed plan of action, which includes:

1. Information to be gathered.
2. Types questions to be asked.
3. Techniques and skills to be used. 
4. With whom should the conversation happen and when.
5. Issues to be dealt with in the order of priority.

Palm note is encouraged to be kept by the trainers while giving their presentation on any topic.

Such palm notes may have the points to be covered.

Example: TOPIC – REACTIVE DEVALUATION (RD)

Definition – What is RD When and why it happens? How to control it? Examples – Case history of Mr. X and his Boss Story – Two donkeys and their conversation What will happen if RD is not addressed? How to handle it?

It is necessary to develop the habit of keeping such palm notes ready in the trainer’s kit on every sub-topic.

ADVANTAGES

1. It avoids trainer moving out of the track
2. It guides the trainer
3. Trainer need not get panic as to what should be said next
4. Helps the trainer to manage the time effectively
   (In the example of Reactive de-valuation, with a palm note on hand, the said sub-topic can be very effectively and neatly dealt within 3-5 minutes)
5. Professionalism gets demonstrated.
6. Performance pressure and anxiety of poor performance gets controlled
7. Whether trainer keeps the palm note in his/her palm or not, a glance at it before the session will also help.

Where to keep the palm note:

1. It can be kept in hand, and there is nothing wrong if the trainer looks at it often.
2. It can be kept on table and trainer can go there and peep in
3. When the trainer is giving presentation by sitting, palm note can be kept on the table in front of the trainer, and behind the palm note a big book is kept, so that trainees do not find out that the trainer is keeping a palm note.

“Do not hesitate to change the course only to be on the right track”

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