Positioning depends on the objective.
In the context of training positioning would involve the following three areas:-
- External/ physical positioning/Body positioning .
- Internal positioning – Mental preparation
- Positioning of the trainer in the mind of the trainees.
1)External physical positioning.
Trainer may have to take a minute or two to decide on the positioning.
Trainer has to take a call on where he/she should be standing during delivery of presentation, while asking questions, while answering the trainees, while watching the role play, while coaching the mediators to be during the role play, during facilitation process , while the other trainer is holding the session etc. The body positioning in each of these situations will be different., and will speak a lot on the professionalism of the trainer.
Body positioning requires preparedness to meet the situation.
Body positioning reflects the competence , and confidence of the trainer.
During coaching the body positioning of the trainer reflects the connection and caring concerns of the trainer towards the trainees.
However in order to achieve this , internal calm and composure would act as two key supporting elements.
- Finding the right place to stand or sit.(ii) Observing one’s own posture / body language/body movements / eye contact/ voice modulations , all these aspects become part of body positioning.
How is this achieved during presentation :- (i) When a trainer has to move from one sub topic to another, it is better to move back, take a minute to take appropriate positioning before starting the next subtopic.
2) Internal positioning – Mental preparation
The following may be considered:-
(i) Remembering positive affirmations (ii) Regaining confidence (iii) If some points are forgotten- taking a look at the notes.(iv) If some mistake was committed during the earlier part taking steps to set it right (v) If some of the trainees are interfering too much ..how to avoid it . (vi) Should the method of presentation be changed..
However implementation of any of the internal positioning techniques requires tremendous calmness from the trainer.
3)Positioning of the trainer in the mind of the trainees.
Trainees may have their own perceptions.
They may rate the trainers as per their own yardsticks.
They may be strongly opinionated.
They may form the opinions within few minutes of the presentation.
Trainers may have to be sensitive towards the body language of the trainees and catch as to what is going on in the mind of the trainees.
Trainers have to immediately think of a strategy to erase the misconception if any in the mind of the trainees.
However trainers need not have to think too much about the opinion of the trainees during the session. They can always consider the feedback by the trainees. Thus what is to be part of working on the feedback given by the trainees should not be part of the attention to be given to the positioning of the trainers in the mind of the trainees, during the session.
“Proper positioning helps in taking control of the surrounding .“
SLAMW
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 