Conflict is a natural part of the human experience, but that doesn’t mean that it is always easy to cope with. Indeed, there are many instances in which a seemingly straightforward disagreement can escalate into a much more serious situation that is difficult to contain, damaging relationships and hampering productivity in the process.
At GoldCoachUK, one of our core offerings is a mediation service, in which we send out an expert negotiator to help those on both sides of a conflict reach an amicable, mutually beneficial solution. While most of our mediation cases are related to workplace and professional situations, we also help families and friends resolve disputes through similar processes. In this post, we’ll take a look at the value of mediation and how it could actually end up saving your company money when leveraged effectively.
What is Mediation?
Mediation is, in essence, the process of resolving and settling disputes between two or more parties that are unable to reach a point of agreement. Similar to arbitration, mediation is all about finding a solution that is mutually agreeable to all parties involved. However, it differs in how the resolution occurs In the case of arbitration, both parties agree to accept the ruling of an impartial, third-party arbiter. This makes their final decision binding. But in the case of mediation, the conflict-resolution specialist does more than simply reach a decision. Instead, they listen patiently, facilitating discussion and helping both sides to understand that their respective positions are actually not that far apart. The Mediator is entirely impartial and can therefore assist in producing positive results.
The primary strength of a mediator is their ability to see all sides of an argument and to empathise with all of the involved parties. This makes it possible for them to help all everyone arrive at a solution that really is mutually acceptable. On many occasions, the issue has escalated due to a lack of communication and unfounded assumptions.
The Hidden Cost of Conflict
Whether at home or in the workplace, conflict carries with it a variety of hidden costs. To begin with, the anxiety and – in some cases, pain – caused by conflict are bad for morale, which in turn affects the bottom line. There have been many studies suggesting that low workplace morale hinders workplace productivity. In the US, the Gallup Organization conducted a poll that found that there were roughly 22 million disengaged employees in the country, costing the economy up to US$350 billion each year. In this case, low morale was cited as leading to absenteeism, illness and other problems.
Beyond morale, unresolved conflict in the workplace can lead employees to leave the company and seek employment elsewhere. When they leave, they will take them all of the training they received and skills they developed while employed. These are direct human-resource related investments that your company makes in its workforce, and losing these investments due to a potentially avoidable escalation of conflict is unfortunate to the say the least.
Training up new employees carries its own expense, and if remnants of the unresolved conflict remain under the surface, then it is likely to erupt again in the future – even after one of more of the main parties has left. Resolving the conflict while still possible is a much more preferable course of action.
Why Independent Mediation Is So Popular
Whether at home or in the workplace, the process of mediation is an excellent way to get to the core of the conflict. As long as all parties are earnest in their desire to resolve the conflict, then it’s likely that a talented and qualified mediator will be able to achieve positive results.
Furthermore, mediation is vastly preferable to going to tribunal. In this section, we’ll outline a few of the reasons why:
- The cost of going to tribunal is high. This is one of the most straightforward reasons that companies prefer mediation to taking legal action to resolve conflicts. Involving the courts is expensive – from hiring legal representation and paying court fees to complying with any reward handed down by the court.
- Going to tribunal costs company resources, as well. In addition to costing the company money, going to tribunal is also going to drain its resources. Members of your team will have to invest their time in finding reference materials and otherwise planning and preparing for the proceedings. This loss of time, energy and business focus will have negative repercussions for company operations
- The legal process is time consuming. Every hour that members of your team spend locked up in legal proceedings is an hour that they spend away from the job and their requisite tasks. It’s a given that resolving serious conflict is going to require time spent on behalf of those involved. But involving the courts is almost certainly going to increase the amount of time that everyone spends away from work. A quick and amicable resolution with a mediator is certainly preferable.
Who is Mediation Best Suited For?
At its core, mediation is suitable for anyone who is dealing with difficult-to-resolve conflict, be it at home or in the workplace. Going through the mediation process provides a range of positive rewards for those involved – not least an amicable solution to the problem. But that’s only one aspect worth considering.
Going through the process of mediation with a highly skilled mediator also serves to equip those involved with the tools needed to resolve future conflicts on their own.
Mediators at Gold Coach UK use a proven system to address conflict, and the techniques can be learned through the mediation process and employed to resolve future conflicts as well.
As your team members acquire the skills needed to deal with conflict, they’re going to naturally become more adept at working together and taking each other’s needs into account, and they are likely to grow into stronger listeners in the process. This, in turn, leads to better teamwork, cohesiveness and stronger morale in the workplace.
Wherever there are pain and problems, GoldCoachUK can supply you with solutions to work through the important issues and gain positive results. Call us before the problem escalates, and we’ll help you restore your home or workplace into a supportive and productive environment that thrives on positive relationships.