Even as a trained mediator, I often forget to apply my listening skills. My friends and family would be the first to say I constantly interrupt them, so keen to provide input! It’s not always easy to be quiet and just listen, especially when you have relevant insight from shared experience in a topic of conversation.

Do you do this too? Don’t worry, being aware is the first step to learning how to do something better. And you can!

Imagine for a moment how good it would feel to be heard when what you have to say is fraught with emotion or difficult to say out loud, a little embarrassing, or you’re just not sure how to put how you are feeling into words.

During mediation, people have a physical response when their opponent has listened to them, and really heard how they are feeling, what they are concerned about, what they might be afraid of, how they would like a situation to pan out, and so on. We see the release play out.

It’s a very powerful tool in dispute resolution.

If you need help with a conflict situation and feel you haven’t been heard in discussions or negotiations you have already tried, mediation might be a good option to consider. We can guide those involved to listen to what you need them to hear, and help you get the message out and onto the negotiation table