A group of women leaders in Kenya approached Interaction Management Associates seeking virtual mediation training. IMA had never conducted such a training, so we had no idea how transformative the course would be for this powerful group of peacebuilders. After she took the IMA New Mediator Course, Jayne Waithitu shared how mediation training has enriched her work with Peace Warriors Organization (PWO). Jayne is the founder and inspiration behind this women-led, non-profit in Kenya focused on empowering women and girls to encourage political and economic participation. As an undergraduate student in international development with an interest in conflict resolution, I was struck by the hope-filled perspective with which these women approach their work and the vision they have for Kenya’s future. Jayne’s inspirational journey with peacebuilding made me realize the potential of mediation training to positively impact communities around the world.
How to Stay Calm When Conflicts Get Tense: Five Powerful Strategies of Expert Mediators
In our introductory mediation courses, we ask students to give their initial reactions to conflict. The most frequent word most new mediators associate with conflict is fear. That anxiety propels us into default fight-or-flight defense responses. So, how do we mediators, who work directly with people in conflicts, manage our own emotions? I reached out to a few highly-respected mediators and asked them to share strategies they use to stay calm when conflicts get tense. Many of these tips can be applied outside the context of mediation, to help you feel better prepared for conflict situations. With input from those colleagues, I have identified the following five powerful strategies mediators use to keep cool in the heat of conflict.