A brief report of the mediation workshop held on 22nd May during 4.00 to 6.00 pm facilitated by Mr. K. S. Sarmaji from Hyderabad through Zoom Online.

 A brief report of the mediation workshop held on 22^nd May during 4.00 to 6.00 pm facilitated by Mr. K. S. Sarmaji from Hyderabad through Zoom Online.

There are about 36 participants were actively participated from different part of India. Majority were young people in this webinar.

 

Shri. Rajagopal.P.V welcomed all the participants as well as the resource person Shri. Sarmaji and requested everyone to make use the learning from this kind of programs in terms of developing their personal understanding in nonviolent way of mediation methods in difficult situations at personal level as well as at the community level in large.

 

The workshop intended to explore the root cause of conflict, the mindset that creates conflict, and the mindset that prevents conflict. It is unaccepted and unappreciated differences that leads to disputes. These disputes, if unresolved, then leads to conflicts. Sarmaji took us through the workshop through simulated exercises to create an experiential learning.

 

We started with the 'Cube exercise'. This showed that even though we, the participants, were a group of similar thinking people, had different perspectives about what is the correct answer. Later, through Sarmaji's guidance we realized:

1. That although our views were different, all had valid views.

2. That it is important to become curious about why someone else sees the situation in a different way.

3. That we must be aware of our tendency to stick to first impressions/answers, and must be aware they may be wrong.

4. That our view is subjective, partial, and distorted, because our past experiences affect our perspective.

To clarify the last point, Sarmaji narrated the story of two car drivers and their conflict. Later we realized their conflict was the result of a misunderstanding. The misunderstanding happened because of a bad experience one driver had in the past.

Sarmaji also explained how once we understand the other person's view, we can then change our approach of working with them.

Sarmaji then defined mediation. It is facilitated negotiation. It saves time and money and saves relationships when compared to long lasting court cases that are stressful and delayed in resolution. Sarmaji narrated a tricycle story to illustrate this.

Based on a story of a conflict that happens in a library, we learned the following:

In principled negotiation or mediation, we must try to understand the real interests behind the positions each party takes. The initial positions both parties take may look difficult to resolve but once we understand the interests, the participants can come to a resolution that satisfies both their interests.

We then did the nine dots exercise that proved solutions are discovered if we think out of the existing structure. The way a task is described also can affect confidence that it can be solved.

Sarmaji wrapped up the session showing how the force of a person's motivation depends on his belief in the worth of a goal, and his belief in the possibility that he can achieve it.

Notes prepared by: Anish and Ajith