Moderation in the municipal council: Training for mayors & council chairs

Coaching for female mayors is an exciting and demanding topic that is becoming increasingly important. Mayors play a central role in leading cities and municipalities and must act competently in a wide range of areas—from administration and economic development to social and community issues. Good advice and fresh perspectives are all the more important.

About the event

The goal of moderation in the municipal council is to guide discussions, ensure respect, guarantee balanced opinion-forming, and ultimately support decision-making. However, dealing with conflicting interests, disputes, or even polemics makes it difficult to facilitate constructive and effective communication.

In addition to insights on handling conflicts and moderation techniques, two consecutive online sessions will be used to analyze and reflect on specific situations from daily political life and to find solutions as a group.

This coaching and moderation offer is aimed at female mayors and local politicians who moderate committees and council meetings.

Registration

Dates: February 5th & February 24th, 2026; 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Location: Online
Register here

The following topics will be covered:

Understanding the moderator's role

• Leadership skills: Even with a neutral role and stance, it is important to steer the discussion so that it remains goal-oriented. Clear instructions and practiced conflict management skills are essential here.

Effective communication techniques

• Active listening: Moderators must ensure that all voices are heard.
• Ask clarifying questions: To avoid misunderstandings and clarify complex topics, it can be helpful to ask questions that sharpen or deepen the discussion.
• Summarizing and paraphrasing: By summarizing discussions, the moderator ensures that all participants understand the key points and remain focused on what is essential.

Conflict moderation

• Identify conflicts early: In a municipal council, different political views or interests collide, leading to conflicts. Moderators have the task of identifying these conflicts and responding to them constructively.
• Neutralizing tensions: It often helps to defuse tension by validating the positions of those involved and showing understanding for different perspectives. But what should you do when things become polemical and respect is lacking?
• Finding compromises: Moderators can help ensure that compromises are found in difficult situations that take all sides into account without any party having to completely abandon their position.

Structured discussions

• Agenda and time management: Good moderation requires that the discussion follows a clear agenda. Time management is also crucial to ensure all relevant topics are addressed appropriately.
• Focusing on topics: Discussions tend to drift. A moderator must ensure that all discussions remain within the scope of the relevant topic.

Encouraging participation

• Equal opportunities for all: In a municipal council, it is important that all members have the chance to speak.
• Encouraging constructive contributions: Effective moderation encourages participants to provide concrete, solution-oriented input rather than getting lost in general statements or polemical arguments.

Sustainability of decisions

• Accountability and follow-up: Successful moderation does not end with the decision. It must also be ensured that resolutions are implemented and reviewed when necessary.