Preparing built environment professionals for mediation

Five practical ways to prepare for Mediation Training

With mediation gaining ground as a practical, commercially focused approach to dispute resolution, more professionals are looking to formal training to build confidence and credibility. Whether you're taking part in the upcoming online course or attending face-to-face in Dubai, the Mediation Training Programme is designed to be immersive, demanding and relevant to real-world disputes.

To help you prepare, here are five practical steps you can take to get the most from the experience.

1. Understand what mediation really involves

Some participants may come into the course with a strong understanding of litigation or arbitration. However, mediation requires a different approach. This process is focused on helping parties reach agreement through guided negotiation, rather than taking a position or advocating for a side. Ahead of the course, take some time to think about how that shift affects your current or future roles, and what it means for the way you communicate and manage discussions.

2. Review the ACRE™ model - and consider how it applies to your work

The ACRE™ approach underpins the RICS methodology:

• Analytical - Helping parties to analyse the circumstances, law, evidence, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of their case to support viable decisions.
• Commercial - The training encompasses commercial and legal realities to provide a flexible settlement, which courts or arbitration cannot.
• Restorative - Focusing on restoring relationships between parties.
• Expert - With experience and expertise in the fieldof the dispute, mediators help parties to reach a common-sense settlement, or to narrow the issues in dispute, reducing court or arbitration costs.
   

You don’t need to memorise the model as you’ll use it throughout the course, but being familiar with how it works can help you apply it with more purpose during roleplays and assessments.

3. Expect to participate fully in active learning

The course is designed around live coaching, structured roleplay, and reflective feedback. You’ll be working in small groups and learning how to mediate real-life scenarios based on common disputes. Past participants often say the real value came from the hands-on practice and honest feedback from the tutors.

As one learner mentioned:

“I felt energised by the process, and I now feel confident to accept an appointment, due to the intensity of the role plays.”

4. Refresh your communication and negotiation skills

Strong mediators are skilled at helping others to communicate their point of view. That means asking clear, open questions, listening without jumping in, and managing dynamics in the room. You may want to read up on some basics of negotiation beforehand, so that the course can build on these skills and helps you apply them in a mediation setting.

5. Make space for the assessment, and treat it like a real mediation

Assessment is built into the course and mirrors what it’s like to lead a professional mediation. You’ll be asked to demonstrate your ability to manage the process, maintain impartiality, and guide parties toward settlement. There’s also a written component. The structure is fair and transparent, and you’ll receive feedback throughout, however it’s worth planning your time and energy accordingly.