What do you do if creative thinking is lacking during mediation sessions?

‘Emotional blackmail’ sounds weird but once it worked like a charm when I was in the Navy. Two parties were fighting amongst themselves in my ship over petty issues & it got really bitter, hurling abuses & somewhat even closer to physical. I being a departmental regulator of both groups had to intervene, separated them and tossed a question in the air ‘you guys are heartless, imagine being one of us getting transferred or even not in this world anymore, we don’t even get a chance to see each other again after some days, will you really feel good? I tried hard even harder pushing a statement to make these guys realise to live these moments together as these won’t come back again! It worked like a charm and promoted brotherhood amongst them!

It's a common idea to ask participants to consider the conflict from the other party's perspective, but I'd say it has two faults. 1. They may get it wrong and so make assumptions about what the other party wants or thinks or the reasons behind their actions. 2. it can feel like 'guilt tripping' even if not intended. I once heard of a mediator who asked a party to consider what it's like for the other party who has cancer? This very much felt to the party like they were being guilt tripped into keeping quiet about their concerns and was strongly rejected. In any mediation, having uninterrupted time and then interaction between the parties enables each party to find out from each other their perspectives so no guessing needed.

When creative thinking is lacking during mediation sessions, HR can encourage participants to approach problems from different angles and think outside the box. This might involve using techniques like brainstorming, visual aids, or bringing in a neutral facilitator. It's important to create a supportive environment where all ideas are welcomed without judgment. By fostering an atmosphere of creativity and open-mindedness, HR can help unlock innovative solutions and move the mediation process forward effectively.

To address a lack of creative thinking during mediation sessions, it is important to establish a supportive atmosphere. Encourage the generation of diverse ideas and perspectives, challenge assumptions, and explore alternative solutions. Utilize visualization techniques for inspiration. Consider involving impartial third parties and take breaks or change the environment to stimulate fresh thinking.

It all starts with focus. Quiet everything on the outside and what is inside will flow naturally. It's already there inside you, the outside noise is just in the way.

I often feel I'm being a bit 'contrary' in these posts but I'm not alway sure that getting up and drawing mind maps, diagrams whatever is of use, particularly if it's the mediator's 'thing' to do so. Not all people relate to such methods so can become a bit baffled. If participants themselves want to do so then great but for a mediator to assume it is 'useful' for the parties if they haven't initiated that use of visual tools themselves can mean a distraction and confusion rather than a help. If the parties lead on it great, if the mediator 'imposes' it....not so great. In fact it's as if the mediator is trying to fix things rather than the parties use mediation to fix things between themselves whether via visual tools or not.

When I was a mediator I found that using a flip chart and coloured markers was the best visual as it was interactive (parties could see it being written or drawn).

Use visual aids such as charts, diagrams, or illustrations to illustrate concepts.Incorporate multimedia presentations or interactive whiteboards to stimulate creativity. Encourage participants to sketch or doodle their thoughts to foster visual thinking.

Be straightforward Being straightforward can be effective in stimulating creative thinking during meditation sessions. Sometimes using other means may mean something else to the parties but going straight to the point sends them back to what actually happened and make them think about what went wrong, what could have saved the situation and what to do to prevent future occurrence.

Absolutely! It's like using pictures to tell a story. Just like how drawings and maps make stories more fun to follow, visual tools can help us understand problems better during mediation. They make it easier to see how things are connected and come up with ideas to fix them. So, it's like drawing a map to find your way through a maze—visual tools guide me to the best solutions!

Build an environment where everyone's ideas are heard and valued. Encourage participants to build upon each other's ideas rather than shooting them down. Practice reflective listening, summarizing and paraphrasing others' ideas to ensure understanding.

Empathie und zuhören sollten die Grundlagen eines Moderator(s)/in sein. Er/Sie sollte die Vipes erfassen und den Kern des Problems erkennen. Dadurch kann er/sie die Meditation in die richtige Richtung lenken. Und alle Beteiligten auf Augenhöhe kommunizieren lassen.

When I mediate, I ensure that participants are listening ot each other and get a chance to reflect back that understanding, until each party who needs speaking feels heard enough. Of particular important is to discover each person's main motivators/ needs. If solutions arise in the middle of a mediation, I take note but I do not rush the process of listening, as it is this phase that gets everyone to relax, to trust, to hope that solutions will be found, and to be open enough to see the other perspective/s and be willing to co-create solutions. It is key to listen beyond upsets and judgments, even attacks. These messages denote frustration, disappointment, anger and likely pain. I go beneath that to find the unmet needs.

Both parties need to feel heard, but they won't take that moment to listen to each other. That's where I come in. When I actively listen, I pick up on the compromises that they are willing to make. We can discuss it and they realize that there is a way for both to feel satisfied.

This is like tuning in to your favorite song. Just like how you pay attention to every beat and lyric, active listening in mediation means really focusing on what everyone is saying. It's not just about hearing the words—it's about understanding the feelings and reasons behind them. By truly listening, we can uncover the deeper stuff that's driving the conflict. Then, we can come up with creative solutions that really get to the heart of the problem.

Engage participants in role-playing scenarios to explore different perspectives. Encourage individuals to embody roles outside of their usual viewpoints. Use role-playing as a tool to generate empathy and understanding among conflicting parties.

To me, this is the point. It's like playing dress-up but with feelings. When we pretend to be someone else in role play, it's like trying on different costumes to see how they fit. Also, by seeing things from someone else's point of view, we can understand why they feel the way they do and come up with cool ideas to fix things. Plus, it's like practicing for a play—it helps us feel more comfortable talking about tough stuff and finding solutions together.

Take a break together. Let people have personal time but then recovene in a circle. Sit together in silence. Frame the question - we are trying to create a new reality where we can all work towards our goals. How can we do that together? Encourage calm silence for 5-7 minutes. Then, go around the circle asking each person to answer the question. They can talk for four minutes. Everyone else listens.

Even though I don’t usually lack creative thinking, I find this question challenging. In such situations, I would start by reframing the problem or exploring it from different perspectives. Sometimes, stepping away briefly and returning with fresh eyes can also help spark new ideas. Additionally, I might seek input from others involved in the mediation or draw inspiration from past experiences or successful resolutions of similar conflicts. Ultimately, I trust in my ability to tap into my creativity and find innovative solutions, even in challenging circumstances like this one.

Wenn eine Meditationssitzung stagniert, liegt das an 2 Faktoren. - Der Moderator ist nicht professionell genug - Die Beteiligten blocken (innerlich) Wobei der 2. Faktor wiederum am 1. Faktor anknüpft. Hier ist immer der Moderator/in gefragt. Ist er/sie genügend vorbereitet, kennt er/sie sich aus und schafft ein Umfeld von Vertrauen, dann sollte diese Situation (Stagnation) nicht auftreten. Wenn doch sind erstmal Einzelgespräche nützlich um die Situation neu zu ordnen und eine gute Lösung für alle zu finden.

Taking a break helps me to refocus and gather my thoughts. It also helps the team that process what was learned and figure out how to move through the next steps, agree to disagree, and to prioritize the main objectives and priorities. A clear mind and rest eases the decision making process.

Playing devil's advocate is, in my view, one of the most powerful approaches to supporting creativity. 'What if you don't resolve this?' ...'You've come to this decision, what might mean it doesn't work and how would you deal with things if so?' 'You've said you feel stuck, what is that like? What has happened/been said that means you feel stuck?' 'What will be the consequences if you remain stuck?' ...etc.

When mediation loses steam, meaning no new ideas or open to other potential options, the facilitator should meet each party privately in complete confidentiality. I would ask them, without limitations, what would be a perfect outcome for them. This is an attempt to free up any defenses/positions, and be able to start playing with each component of their vision. Both parties might uncover surprising commonalities or themes not yet been explored. Also, would encourage sharing of previously undisclosed or discussed wants and needs, encouraging them to speak openly and honestly, if they can. At this point, what they share is their most preferred outcome and not based on positions already taken, or fear.

Digging deeper and asking deeper, open ended questions is helpful if the facilitator is skilled at assisting with co-regulating. Often emotions get heightened in mediation and sometimes people are unable to resource themselves and regulate their emotions, so helping with this process is key. Asking questions of each person such as, “what need isn’t being met here?”, “what is underneath your feelings”, and “what request(s) do you have of the other person?” may help each person feel heard and gradually help to move the mediation into effective problem solving. Suggesting that each person take turns speaking without interruption and have each person paraphrase what they hear from the other may help calm the conversation.

I have found that digging deeper into the issues, whether at the table or in a breakout room, can be helpful to get to the root of the inability to fully negotiate the issue. Many times the conflict is much deeper than the issue at hand.

This can get a bit tricky if the mediator oversteps and imposes his personal opinion too much. I always think in situations where the argument has become redundant, it is best to take a time out in order to get out of that pattern of conversation. I always believe in playing devil's advocate because it does allow me to look at both sides; this includes seeing the pros and cons on each. You never want to seem as if you are being more partial to one side over the other so always make sure it goes both ways when posing these "what ifs". I believe this can spark up alternatives from each side and get the conversation flowing towards an amicable solution.

If creative thinking is lacking in mediation sessions, an external impartial consultant can add value by introducing fresh perspectives, innovative problem-solving techniques, and facilitating collaborative brainstorming sessions. Their neutrality and expertise can help break through impasses, encourage open communication, and guide parties towards mutually beneficial solutions, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the mediation process. Feel free to DM me as I am qualified in conflict prevention and resolution 🫡✨

To enhance creativity in mediation sessions, it's crucial to foster an environment where participants feel free to brainstorm without judgment. Utilizing visual aids, storytelling, and role-playing can help understand different perspectives and generate innovative solutions. Metaphors, analogies, mind mapping, and silent brainstorming are effective techniques to stimulate creative thinking. Additionally, seeking outside perspectives can provide fresh insights to facilitate resolution.

🤔Here’s something not listed by AI - If the mediator lacks creative thinking then s/he must be a person with “High Credibility” to be able to gain a threshold respect to be able to mediate. However, a mediator can’t do away with critical thinking always & may need to analyse things critically to single out interlaced issues. In such cases, the mediator should address the emotional part to create a safe environment & make the parties receptive. Once done, the remnant task is not that of conflict resolution but that of technical problem solving. The mediator would have to complement her/his weaknesses by pulling in subject-matter/ technical experts at this stage. It is assumed in this case that the mediator is people strong.

Asking powerful and open-ended question have a great power to break a deadlock situation. As a mediator, maintaining neutrality and professionalism is crucial. I would pose some powerful questions to trigger a different train of thought and help them think from a different perspective. For example: How might we.. What if.. How does this align with our values or goals? What's stopping us.. What are we missing? How can we make this inclusive?

Erstmal stellt sich mir die Frage, warum benötigen wir überhaupt Kreativität in einer Meditationssitzung? Es geht in der Regel darum Konflikte zu beseitigen. Dies geht am Besten mit Fakten, Transparenz und der Bereitschaft aller Beteiligten eine Lösung für alle Beteiligten zu schaffen.