Employee disputes are some of the most challenging problems to work through in any workplace. As a mediator, you are tasked with identifying the right solution that will effectively ease tensions and allow your office space to be productive.
But what are some of the best methods for dealing with workplace conflict? This can be a tough position to find yourself in, you must remain impartial while hearing all sides of the dispute. In the end, some form of compromise can be reached between all parties, however, that is often easier said than done.
The following are some of the tried and true techniques taught by the best and most trusted mediation consulting services in richmond. Keep these in mind the next time you are faced with intervening between two or more parties who are at odds with one another.
Create Practical Goals
Every mediation starts with establishing goals in order to reach the desired end result. In this case, that result is a resolution to the dispute at hand that is reached through a fair, reasoned, professional process where you, as the mediator, remain neutral throughout. You can form opinions on the matter but refrain from passing any judgement on those involved.
In order to reach that solution, you need to create a series of smaller goals to support your intention to get all parties to come to an agreement.
Listen to All Parties
You will need to arrange a private conversation with each individual involved in the dispute. This will give you and that individual a safe space in which the individual can describe his or her take on the problem. You will listen and try to understand what brought about this dispute so you can devise some potential solutions.
Stay focused on your goals and guide each conversation in a direction that will stay on topic so you can gather as much information as possible.
Consider That Information
Once you have met with all parties involved in the dispute, it’s time for you to come up with a resolution that you feel works best for this particular situation. You will think about every individual’s point of view and the source of the dispute. Remember, you do want to remain impartial and your proposed solutions should reflect neutrality.
Bring Everyone Together
Choose a neutral location for all parties to sit down and meet. As a mediator, you will set the agenda for the conversation and start by outlining what you believe is the source of the problem and what you feel is best for resolving the matter. From there you can let the parties talk to one another and try to come to a compromise either in support of your proposed solution or through an alternative one.
Be careful to ensure that all parties stay on topic and remain civil in their discourse. Don’t allow for distractions to get you off topic and urge everyone to refrain from name calling or raising voices at one another. Nothing gets accomplished that way and could derail the mediation before a solution is reached.
