Professional Mediation in the workplace - advice needed

[Earlybird]

Does anyone have knowledge or experience of professional mediation in the workplace to resolve personality clashes, differences in management and/or communication styles, etc.

I am currently involved with an organisation that is suffering from this issue, and wonder if there are books, blogs, websites, etc that can help us move forward.

If possible, we need to find a way to mediate (and hopefully) reconcile the opposing 'sides'.

[nameuschangeus]

I'm afraid I have no answers but will watch this thread with interest as we have issues that might benefit through mediation.

[MrsSchadenfreude]

I do this for my organisation, and was trained "in house". It's very effective if both sides genuinely want to move the relationship forward.

[Earlybird]

Thanks for your thoughts.

I think both sides do want to move the situation forward (or reach some sort of resolution), but the rift is deep. There has been a lot of direct and indirect nastiness on both sides, a bit of getting others to 'take sides' and some profound hurt feelings.

TBH, I am uncertain the situation can be resolved without serious and damaging fall-out that would affect the future of the organization.

IMO, the best thing would be for the person who is the 'focus' to step down - not that the situation is necessarily his 'fault'. It was a bad match from the beginning, and imo, wasn't right for him or the organization - but no one was willing to admit that.

We're at a bit of an impasse. any guidance would be much appreciated.

[Earlybird]

organisation

[Stevie1]

Best book by far is "Mediation for Managers" by Crawley & Graham, lots of practical tips and checklists.

See also the 12 skills on this website to help mediate - www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=7

Personality clash can be a tough one, if you get a mediator get one trained by a specialist workplace mediation provider.

[MarcR]

Hi. I've worked as an inhouse mediator and nowerin my own company providing workplace mediation. The book suggested above is very good but if you need some outside help have a look at my website at www.mediation4.co.uk and you can contact me at [email protected]. Happy to point you in the right direction.

[Leftwingharpie]

While mediation is a great tool in the workplace, if you're preferred solution is for one party to step down from their substantive role (unless you mean heading up a particular project or something) you really should be calling your lawyer as your next step (not saying mediation might not be your next step after that - I really am a fan of it). In the meantime be careful about discussing this by email or letter with colleagues or prospective mediators (certainly don't say anything along the lines of your penultimate paragraph) as it would all be discoverable in the event of a constructive dismissal claim.

[Twinjac]

I've been a mediator and mediation trainer for 25 years and I will happily chat to anyone about a workplace conflict to help them think what to do about it. I am really pleased that someone has recommended my book Mediation for Managers. I've also got a new one called Argument to Dialogue available on Kindle. JohnCrawleyMediation is my current company. Good luck

[parno]

I was trained by ACAS in mediation a couple of years ago. Message me if you want more details on the process. I only work in house for the nhs but the qualification is a nationally recognised one.