When I heard Donna Cornicelli's story, it made me feel like I'd won the lottery. Mediation training was about the last thing on her list, but her principal sent her to the DOE District 75 workshop NYCID provided for parent coordinators last summer.
Now, she uses those mediation tools every day with great results, not just in formal mediation sessions, but in her professional and personal relationships, too.
Her story tells me we are accomplishing our mission - Strengthening Relationships, Building Community - not just providing youth development or dispute resolution services.
I thought about her comments on the importance of listening and conveying understanding as I watched the growth of the Occupy Wall Street movement. It stems from the unrest, fear and frustration that so many people feel today.
When someone feels unsure about their future -- whether they can get or keep a job, retire with ample income, or even whether those with power understand their fears, anxiety can spill over, polarizing communities and inhibiting healthy relationships.
The skills we teach in the Training Institute are fundamental to effective communication. Like golf, the skills seem deceptively simple. In golf, you swing the club and hit the ball into the hole. Simple. To communicate effectively, you withhold judgment, listen carefully, ensure that the other feels understood and always behave respectfully. Simple. HOW WELL one swings the club or communicates takes understanding the principles, practice and coaching.
Even golf pros take lessons. So, if you're not sure you're using the most effective communication tools, get the teaching, practice and coaching you need to become expert. There's always something more to learn. Imagine how your organization's (or your own) communications skills could improve or change with training. We'd love to talk with you about it.
Who can benefit from this training?
We don't all aspire to be golf pros (or mediators), do we? In our workshops you'll find attorneys; teachers; mental health and human service professionals, community volunteers; management and project teams; students; co-op and condo board members... people from different backgrounds who need to be expert communicators.
Our next mediation training is scheduled for Jan. 23-26, 2012, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Or, staff can customize a workshop to meet the needs of your organization.
Give Sequoia Stalder, the director of NYCID's Training Institute, a call to explore how we can work with you.
All the best,
Dominick J. Brancato
Executive Director
P.S. I read all of the workshop evaluations. Our trainers, Sequoia Stalder and Adam Berner get consistently great rave reviews. To read more about the Training Institute, click here.