Last week’s MII TED Talk Club meeting saw a panel of mediation experts, including our special guest from the USA, Michael Lang, analysing lessons from the TED Talk by Lera Boroditsky entitled ‘How language shapes the way we think’.

We had some terrific insights and learning points, such as:

• Be Mindful of Language – Certain words can be triggering for different parties, and a mediator’s choice of words can create barriers. Take time to carefully consider the language you use.
• Understand Group-Specific Language – People often use shorthand or coded language within their families, organisations, or sectors. Mediators should invest time, especially in pre-meetings, to understand this language to build connections and reduce misunderstandings.
• Words Have Different Impacts – While we can control what we say, we cannot control how others interpret our words. However, by understanding cultural references and shorthand, we can improve communication and ensure we’re speaking a shared language.

There are many more tips and lessons that will be useful to mediators, coaches and managers, if you have some time to watch the recording of the panel discussion.

In fact, Michael Lang said of his experience of the MII TED Talk Club:

“The conversation, including comments and questions from the audience, illustrated how language influences our thoughts. With English as our shared language, the panel, and audience, representing many cultures and traditions, talked about both our common values and our different perspectives.”

Join us next time when we discuss how to fix a broken heart. Wouldn’t it be great if mediators knew how to help the parties do just that?

In the meantime, you can find the video recording of our discussion on how language impacts on thinking here: https://youtu.be/97kGy1HARJw