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TOT 208 -WEEK 208
CONTROLLING AND BEING CONTROLLED
More often than not we come across some trainers unknowingly getting lost of the track in which they were supposed to be. (i) Repetition (ii) Speaking on some other topic related to mediation , other than the topic on which the presentation had to be (iii) Getting into minute details of an example and being unable to move out of the example (iv) Going on giving examples , one after the other to explain a very simple concept which does not even require an example (v) Speaking on topics related to personality development etc (vi) Getting into the mode of advising /preaching etc.. are some situations indicating that the trainer is not mindful of his/her role.
Two aspects have to be taken into consideration by the trainer:-
- Am I being controlled by my thoughts?
- Am I controlling my thoughts?
As long as the thoughts are under the control of the speaker, the flow will be as desired by the speaker. Once the thoughts start taking control of the speaker, many thoughts , that may not be releavnt at the given time, may start poping up , and some of these thoughts may over power other thoughts and may stay for longer time, and take control of the speaker. It is in such circumstances derailing is likely to happen. Trainees may feel that the trainer has lost his/her focus.
How to overcome this:-
- Clarity: (a) Focus only on the topic under consideration and nothing beyond
(b) Touch upon other related topics if and only if it is necessary but do not get into details
c) Examples are to be cited only to make the concept understandable.
ii) Use Trackers
Using cards as trackers ( 4 cards with sub topic being written in Bold Letters with marker pen on each of it) and keeping it on the table.
Before the session starts , trainer can give a command to himself/herself to keep an eye on these cards. As one sub topic is covered, he/she can turn that card. If all the three out of four cards are lying on the table, trainer can get a cue that he/she is getting struck .
“There are days where I lose track of time, of place, of everuthing else, because I have been transported to another Universe.”
Susan Isaacs – American Novelist Screenwriter
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Training of Trainers in Mediation 