All About People

Over 81% of people said they have been directly involved in conflict in the workplace, with a further 13% citing that they have been indirectly involved in conflict in the workplace (*statistics from AAP research). So, with workplace conflict affecting 94% of the workforce, Geoffrey Milton, Founder and Director at All About People explores what steps can organisations take to restore harmony.

ACAS’s report 'Estimating the costs of workplace conflict' headlines with "conflict costs the UK £28.5 billion a year". Close to 10 million people experience conflict at work each year, with more than half reporting stress, anxiety or depression as a result. It is also estimated just under 900,000 took time off work, nearly half a million resigned and over 300,000 employees were dismissed.

Conflict happens in every organisation, although we may not always recognise it as such. If conflicts – small or large – are not managed, they can develop into problems that can impact everything from workplace culture, and productivity to brand or organisation reputation. Whilst conflict in the workplace is normal and inevitable, it’s how you handle it that can make the difference. 

Our latest research also found that only 29% of people are very confident in their conflict resolution skills, with the remainder of respondents citing gaps in their skills and a need for improvement. So what options are out there:

Conflict coaching

Conflict coaching is provided by qualified and specifically trained coaches to enable individuals to improve the way they interact with suppliers, clients, intermediaries, and colleagues in order to better understand how to manage and resolve interpersonal workplace disputes.

Conflict coaching can be used to support individuals to:

• Accept the reality that conflict will occur in the workplace - aiming for zero conflict in the workplace is an unachievable goal.
• Develop their understanding of the impact that changes in attitude and behaviour have on how you respond to conflict
• Prevent any unnecessary escalation of a conflict by improving knowledge, skills and abilities to more effectively manage interpersonal disputes
• Prepare for challenging conversations in the workplace by developing stronger conflict management skills. (performance management, managing as a leader)
• Improve resilience and ability to manage future difficulties, such as lack of resilience, ongoing emotions and issues and difficult relationship dynamics.
• A respect for different viewpoints and an innovative approach to problem-solving.

Watch this space to find out more about our new conflict coaching workshops.

Mediation

Mediation is an effective form of dispute resolution. It is a stage of help that comes before proceeding with internal grievance and disciplinary processes and aims to avoid stress and complications and the further stage of potential litigation. 

There are many reasons why mediation is preferred to arbitration, litigation, or other forms of dispute resolution. The key advantages of mediation are:

• Mediation is less expensive than litigation - Usually, with mediation, the duration is up to a day and does not require court application fees or additional legal support (though this depends on whether you have instructed lawyers).
• Mediation is quicker - The length of time from enquiry to conclusion is far quicker than other procedures because there are no court waiting lists. The time is purely dependent upon the availability and preparedness of those involved. It can happen within a couple of weeks, if everyone is ready and available.
• Mediation provides mutually agreeable outcomes - The parties are in control of the outcomes and there is no third-party decision-maker, unless you instruct your mediator to engage with Evaluative Mediation, normally in business and contract disputes. This usually means that enforcement of outcomes is not an issue as people tend to stick to what they have mutually agreed.
• Mediation can be used at any stage of the process to help clarify or facilitate better communication. There does not need to be an actual dispute or conflict.

Find out more and join us for our latest webinar

To find out more about mediation, and how organisations have leveraged this alternative approach to transform contentious situations into constructive outcomes, join us for our latest webinar: Mediation in the workplace: Towards harmonious resolutions. Whether you're looking to get a practical understanding of mediation, to reduce legal costs, improve employee relations, or foster a more collaborative culture, this session will equip you with actionable techniques to make mediation a go-to resolution method at your company.

Thursday 6th June 2024

1pm – 2pm

Click here to sign up

Can’t make it? 

Would anyone in your Senior Leadership Team or HR network be interested in an educational session on conflict resolution?  Please feel free to pass the invitation on.

If you would like further information, please email geoffrey@allaboutpeople.uk

Register for our latest webinar here