Soft skills, especially those needed for effective communication with employees, are often the toughest nuts to crack for managers. The struggle managers face due to a lack of confidence and proper training in handling tough conversations and resolving conflicts is real. The piece also touches on how HR often steps in to fix things, which might help short-term, but doesn't really teach managers to handle these situations themselves. 

Are you worried about role plays in mediator training? This blog is for you! We will never embarrass you infront of the class - we make it really comfortable and we always get told that delegates were dreading the thought of role plays but really enjoyed them!

How do you fancy listening to me rabbiting on about avoiding grievances and changing cultures?

Well I had the opportunity to do so when I was invited to the HR Coffee Time podcast by the truly wonderful Fay Wallis.

Fay asked me some pretty searching questions and thankfully she didn't mind me using a couple of naughty words!

The solution to workplace disputes isn’t always about repairing the relationship - sometimes in fact, it’s better for all parties to part ways.

People (including other mediators) often ask me what the difference is between workplace and employment mediation. 

I’ve written a little blog to explain the difference, giving an example of a discrimination case I mediated which moved from workplace to employment in order to reach a resolution. 

All of our mediators are interested in just one thing - helping people to reach a resolution, which means they no longer waste time and (most importantly) avoid the stress of disputes - not to mention all the money that everyone can save.

At Pragmatism we never give up helping people reach solutions, and if we need to move mediation types to help employees and organisations, then that’s what we do! Pragmatic in both name and nature!
 

Not all disputes are between two people - often several people have issues with each other, or teams are working against each other.

Whether it’s Fred and Sheila not talking to each other, Manufacturing and Sales having tensions or Managers and Trade Unions in disputes over pay - we’ve been there and have the well worn t-shirts to show it!

Team and group disputes can be mediated or we can facilitate conversations - it’s just about knowing how!