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Day-3: Five Days Certified Training Program on Mediation In collaboration with AIIMAS

Event Date: 29 January 2026

Event brief description

The mediation training programme was organised with the objective of strengthening participants’ understanding of core mediation skills, particularly active listening, non-verbal communication, empathetic engagement, and negotiation strategies. The session was designed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application, sensitising participants to the subtle yet decisive role of communication in determining mediation outcomes.

The training drew conceptual guidance from standard mediation pedagogy, including principles reflected in the Mediation Training Manual of India and internationally accepted negotiation frameworks. Emphasis was placed on understanding how communication—both verbal and non-verbal—shapes trust, neutrality, and effectiveness in mediation. Participants were introduced to the importance of empathetic listening, neutral body language, and tone modulation as essential tools for de-escalation and confidence-building.

The programme also provided conceptual clarity on negotiation within mediation, highlighting the distinction between adjudicatory processes and facilitative dispute resolution. By focusing on interest-based negotiation and strategic awareness tools such as BATNA, the training aimed to equip participants with skills necessary for humane, efficient, and sustainable dispute resolution.

Event Detailed Description

The mediation training programme focused on developing essential communication and negotiation skills required for effective mediation practice. A key emphasis of the session was on active listening, which was explained as a skill that goes beyond merely hearing spoken words. Participants were trained to listen attentively, demonstrate understanding, and provide appropriate feedback, while recognising that interrupting parties, passive hearing, or mechanical agreement can seriously undermine the mediation process. Empathetic listening was presented as a higher-order skill that requires mediators to understand the emotions, perceptions, and lived experiences underlying parties’ statements.

A significant portion of the training was devoted to non-verbal communication, including body language, facial expressions, posture, eye contact, and paralanguage such as tone, pitch, pace, and volume of speech. Participants were sensitised to the fact that non-verbal cues often reveal hidden emotions and attitudes and may even contradict verbal expressions. The session discussed established communication concepts, including the Mehrabian Rule, to demonstrate how tone and non-verbal elements can carry greater weight than words when conveying feelings and attitudes.

The programme also underscored the importance of neutrality in mediation. Participants learned that a mediator’s open posture, calm facial expressions, steady eye contact, and composed tone help foster trust and fairness. Conversely, closed postures, avoidance of eye contact, or pointing gestures were identified as behaviours that may unintentionally signal bias or defensiveness.

Negotiation was explained as a voluntary and communicative process aimed at achieving mutually acceptable outcomes. The training clearly distinguished mediation from adjudicatory processes, emphasising that mediators do not determine fault or impose decisions. Instead, their role is to facilitate dialogue, help parties explore interests, and support constructive negotiation. Participants were introduced to interest-based negotiation and the concept of BATNA as a strategic tool for informed decision-making. Common barriers to effective negotiation were discussed alongside best practices such as empathy, open dialogue, and identification of common goals.

Department Name –School of Law

Event Outcome 

By the end of the training, participants demonstrated improved conceptual clarity on:

  • The meaning and importance of active and empathetic listening
  • The impact of non-verbal communication and paralanguage
  • The necessity of neutrality in mediator conduct
  • The fundamentals of interest-based negotiation, BATNA, and win–win outcomes

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