Its quite simple, the earlier a workplace conflict is resolved the less impact it has on staff, costs, environment and work atmosphere. We have talked before about grievance proceedures and how their goal can often be to protect the company to the detriment of the employee so we feel strongly that it is the informal mediation skills that a manager uses that can really save the day and prevent costly and disruptive workplace conflict.
Formal mediation with an external thrid party still has its place in intractable and difficult conflict, but most work place conflcit starts small and it is here in the early stages of conflict that a manager can make the most difference.
Mediation Skills for Managers
Our Mediation Skills for Managers training begins with helping the Manager to understand his or her own approach to conflict. (See our free online Conflcit Style Profile)
Learning Objectives
- Determine WHEN problems can best be solved by Managerial Mediation
- Prepare the best CONTEXT for a mediation meeting
- Perform the three PRIMARY TASKS of the manager-as-mediator
- Negotiate agreements to PREVENT RECURRENCE
Topics Covered
- The manager-as-mediator — a better way to handle communication problems and personality clashes
- Consequences of conflict — measuring the dollar cost of conflict in your organization
- Types of conflict — boss-employee, employee-boss, and employee-employee
- When managerial mediation works — and when it won’t
- Preliminary meetings with employees — the surprising purpose of “getting the facts”
- Managing the context — mostly common sense, but vitally important and often overlooked
- The three tasks of the manager-as-mediator — made simple and practical
- Contracting for agreement — making deals that stick
- Practice by learners — constructive, guided feedback to build practical skills
Who Should Attend?Who should attend
The Mediation for Managers Training isn’t just for managers. It is designed for supervisors, team leaders, members of self-managing teams, and human resource staff — in short, for any employee who is responsible for the cooperative work of others. It is also excellent preparation for future leaders. No particular educational background is required.
For further details on our Training Courses, See our Training Courses Page