DATE
Friday, 29 January 2026
TIME
2:30pm to 5:15pm (SGT)
9:30am to 12:15pm (CEST)
VENUE
Online (via Zoom)
Meeting link to be shared closer to event date
WORKSHOP FEES
Standard:
SGD$125
Early Bird:
SGD$105
PF Affiliates:
$95
Every mediation begins with a question — and how you
ask it matters.
About This Workshop:
Mediation is a moderated conversation or negotiation that is fundamentally based on mutual understanding of the parties’ views and interests. To support this process of understanding, mediators need to listen actively and ask the right questions.
In this interactive online workshop, participants will explore one of the mediator’s most powerful tools: the art of asking questions. We will examine di fferent types of questions and discuss how they can open perspectives, shift dynamics, and deepen understanding in mediation.
Through short inputs, demonstrations, interactive activities and practical exercises, participants will gain new skills to strengthen their questioning techniques and to use questions more strategically in challenging situations.
This session is designed for mediators at
intermediate and advanced levels who wish to
refine their practice and expand their toolkit.
What You’ll Learn:
- Understand the Power of Questions:
Learn how questions shape dialogue and influence mediation dynamics. - Identify Question Types:
Distinguish between open, closed, circular, and reflective questioning techniques. - Formulate Eff ective Questions:
Develop purposeful and context-sensitive inquiries that deepen understanding. - Enhance Active Listening:
Integrate attentive listening with responsive questioning to build trust. - Apply Strategic Questioning:
Use questions to manage emotions, shi ft perspectives, and guide parties toward resolution. - Refine Mediation Practice:
Strengthen overall communication skills for more confident and outcome-focused facilitation.
Meet Your Presenters:
Susan Tay is a veteran family lawyer, mediator, and mediation advocate with over three decades of legal experience. She is a co-founder of PracticeForte and the founder of OTP Law Corporation. Certified by the Singapore International Mediation Institute, Susan has mediated and advocated in highly complex cross-border disputes. Susan’s mediation experience has kept focused in the areas of family and shareholders’ disputes, matrimonial assets and family estates, real property including trust law. As a trainer, she combines practical case experience with compassionate teaching, guiding participants to understand mediation both as a professional practice and a mindset for peacebuilding.
Christian von Baumbach is an international mediator and communication consultant specialising in cross-border and intercultural mediation. Having trained and lectured across Germany, Japan, Singapore and beyond, he brings deep insights into managing cultural di fferences and fostering understanding between diverse parties. His expertise includes online mediation and training future mediators in universities and professional settings. A certified member of MiKK e.V. and the German Federal Mediation Association, Christian believes mediation is essential for resolving international disputes and building bridges across cultures.
Join mediators Susan Tay and Christian von Baumbach for a hands-on exploration of questioning as a strategic tool in mediation. Learn to craft questions that open perspectives, uncover interests, and guide conversations toward constructive resolution. This interactive session combines theory, demonstration, and practice to help mediators enhance their listening and questioning finesse.
