What is Conflict?
All people carry with them unique histories, cultural backgrounds
and ways of relating to others. When these differing backgrounds and
ways of relating bump up against each other, conflict occurs. Conflict
in itself is natural, and can lead to creative ways of solving problems,
but if left unaddressed it can have a negative impact on an organization’s
bottom line.
What is the Cost of Conflict?
Research shows that two thirds of job performance problems stem from
conflict in the workplace rather than from inadequate skills or lack of
motivation. Unaddressed conflict usually escalates, creating increased
stress levels among workers and a resulting lower productivity of the
organization. The grievance process, often entered because of unaddressed
conflict, is costly to the organization both financially and in
unproductive work teams.
Can you measure how much conflict is costing your organization?
Ask yourself the following questions:
- How much time have I or others spent dealing with a recurring conflict?
- How many skilled employees have left our organization because of the
unsatisfactory resolution of a conflict?
- How much have extended stress leaves and related health benefits cost
us?
- How often have we restructured job descriptions, reporting structure,
and physical work space to accommodate personality differences?
- How much productive work time have we lost because of employee
absenteeism that stems from the inability to deal with a conflict
situation?
- How much work has been sabotaged because of negative feelings that
haven’t been handled constructively?
What is Mediation?
When a conflict cannot be resolved by negotiation between the parties
involved, a neutral third party can help to facilitate the settling of the
outstanding issues and work toward agreement between the parties. The
mediator helps the parties enter into a mutually agreed upon process by
which they can work to resolve the conflict and establish or rebuild a
positive working relationship.
Why Should I Choose Mediation?
Mediation is a logical, affordable alternative to costly litigation,
arbitration or other confrontational dispute resolution mechanisms.
Mediation looks forward, rather than backward. It is a process that
empowers the parties involved, and provides an ongoing positive method of
dealing with conflict.
Mediation works for several reasons: 1) the presence of a trained third
party changes the dynamic of a conflict, requiring disputants to alter
their approach to accommodate a person with whom they are not in conflict;
2) mediators bring a positive energy to the dispute because of their
belief that mediation works; 3) mediators bring skills in communication,
conflict analysis, crisis management, negotiation, problem solving and
conflict resolution design; 4) mediators bring values and ethical
standards that commit all parties to searching for an outcome that
addresses the needs of all concerned.
What makes Facilitated Solutions Unique?
Facilitated Solutions is a team of facilitators and associates who help
organizations create healthy and respectful workplaces. They provide a
wide range of creative, holistic services, including organizational
assessments, strategic planning/evaluation, training in a variety of
areas, and facilitation. Specific services include performance coaching,
counselling, conciliation, mediation, and other creative conflict
resolution interventions.
The Facilitated Solutions team brings many years of diverse experience to
their work with organizations and people. As practitioners and trainers,
they lend a wealth of knowledge and experience to your organization both
to help solve problems and to work proactively to create a healthy,
respectful, and productive work environment.
The Facilitated Solutions team works collaboratively with clients. They
use a consensus-based model of decision making, believing that the people
involved in organizations want to be involved in decisions that affect
them.
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