Many may have a deep desire to be excellent trainers. They may presume that they have worked very hard on the theoretical components. But when it comes to delivery / practical, they may fail or their performance may not be up to the expectation.
Before signing up for any training program it is always expected that the trainer does a rehearsal. If the trainer is at the budding stage , he or she may have to do a rehearsal / or a practice session with the co trainers, or his/her peers. Even a seasoned trainer may have to have a recheck on his/her competence to deliver.
Rehearsal in the perspective of mediation training would mean revisiting the concepts, revisiting the methodology to be adopted during presentation, revisiting the nuances of imparting practical training.
In the very first or second session when a trainer gives his/her opening statement, if it is not up to the mark, many trainees may take out these trainers from their list. Notwithstanding the best efforts put by the trainer, thereafter , the trust does not get restored. Trainers giving training in mediation cannot take the trainees for granted. With the advance in technology many might be knowing the nuances of mediation. Many may have watched several demonstrations of opening statements by different mediators on the screen or when they had participated in live mediations, as counsel/s representing the disputing parties. Trainees might have gone through literature available on nuances of mediation.
Trainer has to be very careful while making any statements in the opening statement. There should not be room for any doubt. Only that statement about which the trainer is very confident can be informed. There may be instances, where after listening to the opening statement , parties may opt for change of mediator also.
It is desirable that the trainer writes his /her opening statement, and then gets the video or audio of the same recording, and watch it or listen to it, and improvise the same if need be.
Mistaken notions
“I have mediated hundreds of mediations. Hence I need not work on my opening statement.
One need not worry too much about the opening statement.
I can be very casual about it.
Opening statement is a forgiving process, I can add anything later. Any omission on my part can be addressed later.
I can clarify if I have made some incorrect statements.
I have to reproduce what I know.”
Underlying factors
Trainer gets connected to trainees through his/her opening statement as this is the first step in their practical journey.
In turn trainees learn to connect to the parties and other participants when they are doing live mediations. If the foundation is not laid properly, they may not be accepted as mediators by the disputing parties or by the counsels representing the disputing parties.
Foundation for building trust in mediators and in the process of mediation can be laid at the first instance by the mediator only through Opening statement.
Spending minimal quality time on this area of making an Opening statement will avoid many negative impacts.
“Five minutes more today is fifty minutes less tomorrow”.
Slamw
Training of Trainers in Mediation 