"To understand each other better when communication is difficult, it is important to realise that the meaning of a message can be very different from the words you heard or the meaning you attached to them."
This is a quote from the course materials for the 5-day training programme in Nonviolent Communication & Mediation. Source: Govert van Ginkel, 2023.
What is heard is not always what was said. And what is said is sometimes not what was meant. The meaning you then give it may be different again from what was heard, said or intended. In short, there is a great deal to learn in this training programme.
I find it enriching to spend five days learning about Nonviolent Communication with a group of mediators. In particular, we practise mediation skills such as rephrasing and reflecting back, exploring underlying concerns and involving others, and interrupting in a way that fosters connection. I look forward to the next training days and, no doubt, more new insights!
