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The Bigger Picture
Recently I took time away from emails and my usual tasks to listen to some of the podcasts we have recorded in the past couple of years. In one we heard from Ann who provides mediation for neighbours in dispute in Fife. One of the things she talked about was how the work as a mediator has changed her view of things – it’s given her another perspective, helping her see “the bigger picture”.
Working life these days is so busy that an opportunity to sit back and to step back and see the bigger picture is very rare. We often share our own views with friends and family and on social media, and in doing so seek out others to agree with us. We build support for our own opinions - our own view of the world. What we don’t do is ask ourselves - is this the only view? Is this the only way of looking at our world? Mediators help both clients in a conflict to find another perspective, another point of view. They do this by creating a safe space to explore people’s motivations, emotions and different points of view.
Spotlight on our service: South Lanarkshire Mediation
South Lanarkshire Mediation service
Hello from Christine and Jennifer. We are South Lanarkshire Council’s two full-time dedicated mediators. Our independent mediation service, established in 1997, helps people in South Lanarkshire resolve disputes in a calm, fair and confidential way. We aim to prevent problems from escalating and help to avoid police involvement or costly legal actions. The service is free and open to everyone who lives in the South Lanarkshire area, regardless of tenure.
What we can help with
We support a wide range of issues, including:
- community and neighbour disputes
- anti-social behaviour
- noise complaints
- parking disagreements
- boundaries or high hedges
- clashes of lifestyle
- family conflict, including young people at risk of homelessness
Latest podcast
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One of the pleasures of being a trainer is getting to meet and listen to people who come from all over Scotland and from all walks of life. Around a year ago, we met Alan and Steve from Peacock Salt and learnt a little about the company they work for.
As a not-for-profit organisation we often deliver training for other not-for-profit bodies and statutory organisations, so it was really interesting to learn a little about the work of a manufacturer. Having worked in distribution in a previous life, I was familiar with some of the logistical challenges of a manufacturing company, however what intrigued me was how they were going to use the mediation skills learnt on our course. In this podcast we catch up with them and hear how they have used these skills over the past twelve months.
A good question
In a previous podcast we heard from Caitlin who talked about her experiences of mediation. One of the things that she talked about was the importance of open questions and summarising. Helping people who are in conflict is the lot of a mediator, however I believe everyone can learn some of the skills we teach on our course and use them in everyday life, not just in mediations. Let’s begin with open questions.
An open question is one that someone cannot just answer with a “yes” or a “no”. Open questions are a good way to find out directly from the parties involved, exactly what is going on for them. Open questions when used well, remove a lot of the value judgements or assumptions that can creep in. Let me give you an example.
Restorative Skills
Restorative Skills
In a little over a month’s time, we will be delivering our accredited Restorative Skills course. This is an entry-level qualification for those wanting to deliver restorative practice. It takes learners through all stage of the restorative process, from introductions, explaining what it means, supporting clients and then running a successful restorative meeting. Using a variety of learning methods, we provide a safe and fun space for participants to practice new skills and develop fresh perspectives.
To learn more about this training, why not visit our web page, or if you would like to have a chat about this course, contact us.
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