Conflict is inevitable wherever there are two or more people, and your office is not immune. Personalities may clash, employees might disagree about procedures or a customer may go to social media to bash a policy. In these and other cases, a mediator may resolve problems and prevent expensive lawsuits or irreconcilable relationship breaks.
What is Mediation?
When two parties experience a disagreement or dispute, they may be so focused on their side that they cannot listen to the other party or resolve the conflict amicably. A mediator is a neutral party that can assist both parties in discussing the issue and finding a solution that works. The entire process remains confidential and cannot be used against either party or in court if the dispute escalates. Mediation can take as long as a few hours or a few weeks depending on the conflict.
Why do you Need a Mediator?
Disagreements happen in any office environment between coworkers or clients. Those disagreements can quickly escalate and lead to costly lawsuits if they’re not handled properly and resolved quickly. Instead of paying expensive lawyer fees, consider hiring a mediator. With mediation, you have better control of the situation because you won’t have to allow an outside party to dictate how you resolve the problem.
How do you Hire a Mediator?
Depending on the size of your office and customer base, you may need to hire a mediator who will listen to both sides and help both parties negotiate a fair agreement. All parties will meet in a neutral location for one or multiple times until the issue is resolved.
You can hire a full-time mediator, an independent mediator or an agency. The choice depends on how large your organization is and on how many disputes you have in a given month.
To hire a mediator, check online directories or ask colleagues for recommendations. When you find a mediator you wish to interview, prepare a few questions. Ask potential mediators about their training, experience, availability and hourly charge. You’ll also want to find out if the mediators can be creative and flexible when finding solutions that work, if they are trustworthy and if they’re able to persist until the issue is resolved.
In some cases, a mediator cannot find a solution that works. However, your office should have access to a mediator who can work quickly and efficiently to resolve conflicts before they turn into lawsuits or broken relationships. Your bottom line, office morale and customer base will thank you.
