16 Feb The art of active listening in mediation
Mediators must act as a vessel for communication to facilitate rational understanding and clarification among participants to the discussion. Here are a few ways the mediator can utilise active listening in the context of a roundtable discussion: Capturing Key Points As participants share their perspectives, the mediator actively listens to identify and capture the key points of their statements. This involves paying attention to both the content and the emotional tone of what is being said. Where participants express emotionally-laden views, the mediator must subtly take note of practical issues that are raised so as to keep participants on the right track to resolution. Rephrasing perspectives and clarifying narratives Rephrasing is the act of expressing information in a different form while maintaining its original meaning. Mediators can find rephrasing useful as it enables them to communicate complex ideas more clearly, bridge communication gaps, and facilitate understanding among conflicting parties by presenting content in a way that resonates with diverse perspectives. ...
