Merging Ethiopian Wise-Counsel Mediation and Facilitative ...

Iv.1General Tips for TrainersAs a trainer you should consider the following points before and during your training:1. Be clear about your own objectives as a trainer and theparticipants' expectations. Answer the following questionsbefore making your final training design:> > What is your aim? What do you want the participants to change?> > Why would the participants be interested in mediation skills?> > How would they benefit from them?> > How would they apply the skills?> > What are their needs?> > What do they expect?> > What are their fears regarding the training?2. How to enable understanding and retention. As the traineryou should:> > First give an overview and then proceed from the structure to thedetails.> > Assure that participants really capture the information by firstpresenting questions to allow brain storming, and in a last stepsummarise the results.> > Support trainees in role-play.> > Be involved. If you only observe, you will not be effective in trainingyour participants.The next step is to evaluate in small groups and in plenarysessions. Trainers should:> > If only one language is feasible, apologise for this shortcome andexplain why the session has to take place in a certain languageand not in the other language. It may also be necessary to use atranslator to be sure to de-politicise a language.> > Introduce instructions on how to evaluate a role play. For example,one can say, "Please discuss how body language worked in yourmediation." Focus it to make it useful to your mediation skill application.> > Focus the participants' discussion and evaluation on issues oftechnique and skill use. Sharing general feelings and observationsabout side issues will not clarify feedback and learning processes.How did the conflicting parties feel? Use questionnaires if necessary.> > Be careful to empower participants. It is a difficult task to role playand to be observed. Make it encouraging and useful.> > Observe but do not make the participants feel controlled. Give theparticipants space and only intervene once the smaller groups haveformulated their ideas. Once a trainer intervenes, it is also goodto give the groups a chance to adopt the suggestion or discuss it.Sometimes it is even good to leave the physical space (the trainingroom). This allows time for participants to absorb the ideas.> > Smile and nod to encourage the role players.> > Be the coach. The trainer is on the participant-mediator's side—always!> > Stick to the time frame.> > Have a clear intention and use clear terminology.> > Openly discuss the subject with the participants.> > Use graphics and large letters.> > Write down headings on every flipchart to orient participants.> > Extract core points (don’t attempt to write whole sentences).> > Change colours only when there is a good reason to do so.> > Phrase feedback in a positive way.Training Skills97