Read the following statement:

“Management keeps changing the deadlines without consulting us, then criticises us when we can’t finish the work on time. It’s frustrating because nobody seems to appreciate the effort we put in.”

Write:

  1. a summary (40–50 words);
  2. a paraphrase;
  3. a simplified version suitable for someone with limited knowledge of the context;
  4. a reformulation that could be used by a mediator during a meeting.

This activity gave you the opportunity to apply four different mediation strategies to the same message.

Although the original meaning should remain recognisable, each strategy has a different purpose: summarising selects the key points, paraphrasing expresses the message in different words, simplifying makes it more accessible, and reformulating reframes it to support constructive dialogue.

When reviewing your responses, ask yourself: Did I preserve the essential meaning while adapting the message appropriately for the purpose and audience?