….
TOT 195- WEEK -195
“ESCAPE FROM THE TRAP”.
Note: ( The objective of this weekly blog post- TOTIM.Law.Blog – Training of Trainers in Mediation – is to help the trainers in the field of giving training in mediation .)
Trainer has to be conscious of some traps which will unknowingly attract and drive the trainer loose professional credibility.
Being unmindful of the (i) Time (ii) Audience (iii) Co trainers , and being focussed on “Telling and only telling” ignoring everything else , are nothing but traps.
Unfortunately, no trainer who is trapped will ever know the fact that “he or she was being trapped by himself/herself . The true mentors, professional coach, or a selfless lead trainer can guide them, and help them get / come out of this trap. It becomes very challenging even for the lead trainers/coach/mentors also to provide the needed help , because such trainers ( who are in need of help) , will, by and large, be in ‘denial mode.’ Further they avoid talking about these shortfalls. They constantly give false reassurance to themselves that “ they are right, and the person who is trying to point out , is jealous of their competence.” They rely more on their “ assumed competence” than on “ real /actual competence” The mentors/coach/ lead trainers, may even become unpopular when they are genuinely trying to take the trainers to the next level, by helping them get out of the Toxic Trap .
How to identify that one is in the Trap ?
- Trainer goes on talking about a topic – with lots of repetitions , without there being any content, clarity and continuity of flow of connected thoughts .
- It becomes evident that , as the trainer goes on using the board and marker, trying to explain the concept with an example ( of which there is no clarity) the trainer is talking to oneself , and trying to convince none other than the trainer himself/herself.
- The principle of segmentation which keeps the trainer on track is completely ignored.
- A monotone is used, and the lecturing method is adapted, without there being any change in the mode of presentation which continues for hours and hours.
- The topic is taken out of context ignoring the objective of training ..
- The trainer gets into explanations which is not required given the specific objective which needs to be focused.
- The session goes beyond the time required, allotted and overlaps with the sessions of other co trainers.
- The trainer ignores the presence of other trainer/co trainer altogether .
- The trainer does not acknowledge that there are other topics to be covered by other trainers.
- The principles/sub topics to be covered , point wise, as per the curriculum are completely ignored.
- The trainees feel very bored, and are seen to be compelling themselves to find some grain from the chaff out of what is being presented.
- The restlessness and lack of attention of the trainees remains un noticed by the trainer.
How to make one understand this?
A)The lead trainer/observer/coach/mentor may have to (i) Set an agenda (ii) Set an atmosphere (iii) Prepare the mindset of the trainer , and then, point out what was incorrectly done, and suggest remedies.
The intention of the lead trainer/coach/ mentor to correct the trainer but not to condemn or humiliate has to be made very clear.
B) It is better to ask the trainer to watch the video of the presentation individually, and then, watch the same with the lead trainer/coach/mentor once again.
From the point of view of suggesting corrections and giving constructive feed back, the lead trainer/mentor /coach has to go through the video of presentation , very meticulously.
The presentation has to be divided into parts, and suggest the remedies one after the other .
Lead trainer/mentor/coach has to request the trainer to re present the topic and get it recorded , and watch it to see the difference.
“A fool despises good counsel but a wise man takes it to heart”.
Confucius
(All copyrights reserved by the author S.Susheela)
Training of Trainers in Mediation 