As Trainer: Training Mediators
I have extensive experience in Mediation Training. My focus area has been Higher Education (students & staff). A full mediation programme runs over 5 days and provides an in-depth training ground – one that is peer reviewed and characterised by numerous role plays. It is based on interesting, provocative and challenging cases. Enthusiastic class participation, participation in role plays and a recorded mediation simulation will form an integral part of your successful completion of this course.
This model of training focuses on some of the following challenges in organisations:
- Review of an appropriate leadership model: the mediator as ‘Leader’. We explore styles of leadership, and look at how power operates, and how unequal relationships challenge the effective exercise of leadership qualities.
- Overview of challenging cases: what is ‘mediable’ ? What are the guidelines, tips and survival codes in, for example, mediating sexual offences/ harassment cases? Bullying, racism and racial Harassment? I bring 19 years of work experience in these areas and I have little doubt that you will find my observations and insights helpful.
- Group Mediation: Is there a model that works best when a whole unit/group/department feels that the issue that needs to be tackled should be done in a group? I offer a model that works successfully in different group settings.
- Community of practice: How important is it for the trainees to remain cohesive and to remain in the learning zone? I use proven community of practice models to solidify and inspire trainees to keep informed, connected, and to share and learn from experiences.
As Mediator/facilitator:
- Family/Divorce Mediation: Families that are going through difficult times could often benefit from the facilitation skills of a trained mediator to help negotiate and manage a difficult transition, especially where children are deeply challenged by a dramatic change in their familiar worlds. I have considerable experience as mediator in this field. My experience as Childcare Commissioner (Magistrate, Family Division, Mitchells Plain) has added significantly to my ability to provide care and assistance.
- Individual Mediations: My career as a practising mediator includes dealing with diverse, long-standing conflict and divisive differences. I have acquired a comprehensive framework of cases, and a deep understanding of individual pursuit for fairness, forgiveness, goodwill and the ability to make amends. I endeavour to help parties to carve out their own solutions, stand-offs, or ongoing quest to co-exist. This includes work in the field of HR related matters, Higher Education (disputes between students and staff), family disputes, divorce settlements, and also child maintenance and custody negotiations.
- Group Mediations: In many instances, more than 2 parties engaged in differences/disputes have a need to convene, meet, and require the intervention of a process with a seasoned facilitator to assist in finding common ground. This could be an entire unit, department, or just a working team, where a dispute becomes a real obstacle within the work environment. I also offer a very specific group mediation model (Transformative Mediation) where groups engage in a structured manner around the principles of recognition and empowerment to find workable solutions.
- Corporate Interventions/Facilitated meetings: Not all group meetings require a mediation format. Some groups need an experienced facilitator to lead and manage a difficult discussion. This is particularly useful where the neutrality or impartiality of the ‘outside facilitator’ provides the cues and discussion points, without being too central. Examples would include: Strategic Planning Meetings, Special Elections, Board meetings where particularly sensitive matters need to be discussed.
Relation Strategies 