Introduction and Overview of Module 3

Ben’s lectures provide an in-depth exploration of communication techniques in mediation, equipping students with practical skills for managing disputes effectively. His first lecture focuses on verbal and nonverbal communication, emphasizing the importance of active listening, reframing, and body language awareness. He introduces Nonviolent Communication (NVC) as a tool to help mediators foster understanding through empathetic language and needs-based dialogue.

His second lecture shifts to empathy, rapport-building, and trust, outlining strategies for mediators to connect with parties, create a safe and respectful environment, and encourage open communication. Using real-world case studies, he demonstrates how empathy validates emotions, rapport fosters cooperation, and trust ensures fairness and neutrality.

His third lecture dives into advanced active listening and paraphrasing techniques, teaching students how to identify emotional subtext, recognize recurring themes, and reframe negative language into constructive conversation. By combining theory with hands-on exercises and case studies, Ben’s lectures offer a comprehensive, skills-based approach to mediation communication.