Mediation
Support for resolving a conflict between two people peacefully.
What is the program about?
Mediation sessions with both parties, led by a neutral mediator.
When a conflict between two people is already getting in the way of work and the parties cannot settle it themselves, mediation offers an effective and simple way to handle it: the mediator does not pass judgment, but helps the parties reach an agreement they both commit to.
Who is the program for?
For organizations where resolving a conflict between two employees requires neutral, outside help.
When is it worth starting?
- a conflict between two people is hindering their work together, and they cannot resolve it on their own
- intervention by a manager is no longer enough, or the manager is one of the parties involved.
How we work
The mediator does not decide for the parties, but provides a framework in which each of them can say their piece, hear the other's, and work out a solution together. Because the agreement does not come from outside, it lasts longer than a management decision. Mediation is a voluntary and confidential process. The parties may be colleagues at the same level, or a manager and a direct report.
The process typically starts with separate preparatory conversations and continues with joint sessions; the number of sessions depends on the nature of the conflict. If the tension is not between two people but between one person and a group, mediation can also be used in a restorative form.
It is also worth starting if:
- the goal is to preserve the working relationship, not to decide who is right.
