“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you might find, you get what you need” -Mick Jagger
Employees are bound to have disagreements from time to time with other employees coworkers, supervisors or managers. Whether it is a misunderstanding over who did what, a clash of ideas, performance or a tangle of personal relationships, conflict is inevitable in any workplace. The possibility of a grievance or litigation is sometimes also present. Mediation may be an option to avoid the related costs, stresses and risks, and work together to come up with solutions.
Mediation can be a highly effective process that allows you to find shared goals and values, explore options and reach agreements. Mediation is a confidential alternative to litigation that can allow the parties to avoid the stress, risk, and expense of going to court. Parties that use mediation find that the process provides control over the outcome of the dispute as opposed to having a third party decide what the outcome will be.
Challenges
- Day to day struggles at work
- Emotional and financial cost for the people affected
- Maintaining RELATIONSHIPS
- Possible litigation and the related costs and time
Solutions
- Share your strengths and your challenges
- Be willing to “think outside the box” and come up with creative solutions
- Be honest about your needs and what you can or are willing to do to meet the needs of others
- Make commitments and stick with them
Process
- Help identify who needs to be at the table to reach resolution
- Create a safe space for the meeting
- Bring everyone together to discuss the current situation and explore creative solutions – both short term and long term
- Solutions can be documented and can be reviewed or references later