Merging Ethiopian Wise-Counsel Mediation and Facilitative ...

III.6.3 The Importance of Body Language in the Mediation Process 39At the end of the session, participants will have new knowledge about the importanceof body language in mediation and will have three practical tools at hand to effectivelyuse body language in mediation.120 minutes.None.Pin-board, flipcharts, markers, moderation cards of different colours, three chairs.Step 1: Introduce The Importance of Body Language in the Mediation Process below.Step 2: Facilitate The Use of Body Language exercise.Why does body language play a crucial role in the mediation process?Body language is the first language in which we converse fluently before we are able to utter a single word. It is “spoken” in every interactionbetween two people, even if not a word is voiced or heard. In a face-to-face conversation, we continuously send and receive the nonverbalsignals. They complement and give sense to the content that we voice. Studies have shown that body language plays a significant role in ourdecision whether we find someone trustworthy, credible and likeable. 40While we can carefully select our words, we can only control our body language to a certain degree. Therefore, although we can hide ourinner attitude or feelings in our wording, our body language will always give away some of our thoughts and emotions.Nonverbal communication is neither objective nor can it be standardised. Only very few facial expressions like anger, fear, disgust, happiness,grief and surprise are universal. 41 However, situations in which they occur and the intensity of their expression differ among cultures.Our cultural background, norms and codes influence the way we use our body to express ourselves. For example, there are cross-culturaldifferences with regard to eye contact, the comfortable spatial distance between us and others or the average volume of the voice. In addition,everyone has his or her own individual repertoire of facial and bodily expressions. Everyone therefore perceives signals he or she receivesfrom others in a different way, making the likelihood of misunderstanding high. Mediators should observe the body language of the mediationparties for hints regarding their inner experiences, their thinking and their aspirations, and carefully use these for empathic interventions.However, they must refrain from interpreting too quickly and remain open for possible alternative meanings for nonverbal expressions. Thus,nothing is self-evident regarding the purport of body language in a conversation (and even less so in a cross-cultural conversation).Mediators must not only be aware of and careful about judging the nonverbal signals of others, they must be conscious of their own aswell. In addition to mediators’ oral communication skills, paying attention to their own body language can be a powerful tool to reinforce theirdemeanour/composure/attitude, and build contact and trust between them and the mediation parties.39 This articles is based on: Wüstehube, L. (2005); Wüstehube, L. & Specht, H. Knapp, P. (Ed.) (2013).40 Mehrabian, A. (1981); Burgoon, J. K. & Birk, T. & Pfau, M. (1990).41 Ekman, P., Friesen, W. V. & Ellsworth, P. (1972).62 Mediation Trainer’s Manual