I was inspired to become a mediator after experiencing the power of mediation in my own divorce. I’d been living through a contentious process due to the refusal of my ex-husband’s attorney to even consider mediation. When he eventually replaced that attorney, we were finally able to get into mediation very quickly. I was amazed that we were able to settle more in an afternoon than had been accomplished in almost a year of ugly wrangling. And then I enrolled in mediation training.
Most conflicts are the result of communication problems. As a mediator, I observe people using blocks that get in the way of our ability to fully listen and hear what is said. In this article, the final in this series, I discuss three listening blocks: playing devil’s advocate, agreeing with everything and talking too much. If you can identify with any of these, you are in good company! As with Part 1 and Part 2 in the series on blocks to effective listening, I show how you can avoid each one.
A group of women leaders in Kenya approached Interaction Management Associates seeking virtual mediation training. IMA had never conducted such a training, so we had no idea how transformative the course would be for this powerful group of peacebuilders. After she took the IMA New Mediator Course, Jayne Waithitu shared how mediation training has enriched her work with Peace Warriors Organization (PWO). Jayne is the founder and inspiration behind this women-led, non-profit in Kenya focused on empowering women and girls to encourage political and economic participation. As an undergraduate student in international development with an interest in conflict resolution, I was struck by the hope-filled perspective with which these women approach their work and the vision they have for Kenya’s future. Jayne’s inspirational journey with peacebuilding made me realize the potential of mediation training to positively impact communities around the world.
