0 ‘Emotional Agility’ as a Workplace Mediator

Susan David, psychologist and author or the book ‘Emotional Agility’ states that organisations need to get comfortable with uncomfortable emotions in order to provide a psychologically safe workplace in which staff feel safe to bare their emotional truth. She believes that when leaders are comfortable with uncomfortable emotions, they are better equipped to listen to staff and explore the real drivers of the emotion to uncover mutually beneficial outcomes for both the staff member and the organisation.

0 Conflict In The Workplace And The Key To Setting It Right

A mediator is a ‘Conflict Engagement Practitioner’, a skilled, experienced and accredited mediator. They are external to the organisation and independent to the issues and understand how to constructively engage with conflict in any business.

Their role is ‘not about making nice – it is about coming to grips with what is wrong and ‘setting it right.’[1]

0 To Investigate or Mediate?

To investigate or mediate?

Sometimes managing staff can seem like a test of one’s skill to be able to delicately walk on eggshells, particularly when one staff member starts making veiled complaints about another.

No manager should dismiss or ignore such comments, avoid the conversation, or offer comments of consolation or agreement (either implicitly or explicitly).

0 When Your Boss Is Shutting You Out

Harvest Business Review wrote a summary of an article posted on the harvardbiz website here.

This summary was adapted from “What to Do If You Think Your Boss Is Shutting You Out,” (by Liz Kislik) and suggested that when your boss is shutting you out, you should:

0 Why Managers Let Workplace Conflict Grow

Managers play a crucial role in reducing interpersonal workplace conflict, but for a number of reasons they often don’t recognise when issues require intervention, a conflict resolution specialist says.

Conflict usually stems from one person’s interpretation of another’s behaviour, thinking and intentions, Workplace Conflict Resolution managing director Catherine Gillespie told HR Daily ahead of her upcoming webinar on managing personality conflicts at work.

0 Do You Need A Workplace Mediation Or An Investigation?

The warning signs to know whether to conduct a mediation or a formal investigation would be the number of allegations that have been included in the complaint letter and the nature of the allegations.

Sometimes when the word bullying is used people think automatically that it has to be a formal investigation because bullying is a very serious incident, if it is occurring. But many people are now using the words bullying and harassment without really understanding what they mean.

0 Getting to the Heart of Conflict

‘Getting to the heart of conflict’ is the name of a book written by Professor Bernie Mayer, Lecturer in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at Creighton University. I recently attended a workshop presented by Bernie. He offered a mixture of self reflection and group sharing opportunities along with offering the insights he has gathered, tested, and reflected upon over 30+ years of working in these fields.

0 How to Manage Anonymous Workplace Complaints

We’ve put some focus in recent months on workplace investigations through our series of videos outlining frequently asked questions on the subject. Today we’re covering a question that wasn’t covered in the series but which has arisen a few times and which we have had some success in addressing – How to manage anonymous workplace […]

0 Guidelines for Conducting In-House Workplace Mediations

Just as a meeting agenda keeps a meeting on track, a mediation meeting framework ensures that all important steps are covered and important discussion items are raised and addressed. This framework can provide structure and confidence for a less experienced mediator. One of the most important tips I can offer you is not to rush […]

0 When is Workplace Mediation Needed?

The majority of workplace conflict is interpersonal conflict arising from miscommunication, misunderstanding and inappropriate behaviours. In some cases, but not all, workplace mediation may be required to resolve the conflict. There will always be some type of conflict in the workplace because our communication skills are not always effective and constructive, we tend to misunderstand […]