Running a business involves making the tough decisions day after day. In time, even great relationships can be strained by work pressures. Arguments over corporate control can escalate to the point where the matter goes to court. Successful companies have clearly defined conflict management systems to address small issues before they become big problems. These systems can include assistance from a neutral party from outside the organization. A neutral outsider, like a mediator, can help foster a collaborative culture in the workplace, which can improve productivity and increase profits. It’s often amazing what our clients can achieve once the few stumbling blocks in the way have been cleared away.
In the workplace, mediation is often useful to resolve conflicts between two colleagues at similar levels. But it can also be highly effective in dealing with issues between a manager and an employee. In fact, the open and transparent nature of mediation can make these kinds of conversations, where there would normally be a power imbalance, much more equitable. Each person is given the same platform to express their concerns and they both have an equal say in the outcome. Indeed, the collaborative nature of mediation is optimal for environments like the workplace - where after the discussion is over, people still have to interact on a regular basis. There tend to be less hard feelings when people understand each other and work differences out amongst themselves. Relationship preservation is another key reason smart offices use mediation.
At Venn Mediation, we believe that every business should have a clearly defined conflict management system. And we encourage business owners to consider having an outside organization, such as ourselves, on retainer as part of that system. A mediation firm can help to resolve any issues that may come up as well as educate employees on the values of dispute resolution and how it works. An added bonus is that employees learn better problem solving and communication skills and are more likely to deal with issues than just tolerate them. The end result is better productivity and a better bottom line.
Conflicts in the workplace are common. What is less common are effective ways for resolving conflicts and corporate cultures that encourage employees to want to resolve those conflicts. Successful companies have clearly defined conflict management systems to address small issues before they become big problems. These systems can include assistance…
Conflicts impose many concealed costs in businesses, which can compound over time and damage your organization’s bottom line. As a manager or business leader, even if you are uninterested in the good feelings that mediation can generate, you should be interested in mediation as a highly effective tool for improving your organization’s…
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