Workplace Mediation

Working together, understanding each other

Being part of a team is a central aspect of most people’s working life. A team can be dynamic, creative, productive and supportive. But sometimes teams can be quarrelsome, ineffective and even dysfunctional. Individuals can experience bullying or discrimination. Dissention, disputes and difficulties between colleagues can have a serious impact on motivation, effectiveness and productivity.

Calling all managers and supervisors

When difficulties arise, it’s best to open up channels of communication as soon as possible. If issues are ignored, they are likely to get worse and more complex (and costly to resolve). It is much more effective to resolve issues early and informally, using alternative dispute resolution techniques.

Astren can help

Mediation provides a way of resolving conflict between individuals. Trained mediators help people to talk to each other so that they can work out some answers to their difficulties. Mediation works in carefully planned steps. The first step is for each disputant to meet with the mediators individually and tell them what’s happening. The disputants decide if they want to go on to the next step. The disputants are in control of what happens next. The job of a mediator is to help people to feel confident and safe and to guide them through the steps to solving the problem.

Mediators help people talk things through with each other and find solutions. They help people listen to each other and say what they need to say, calmly. Mediators don’t take sides, don’t tell people what to do and don’t judge.

Mediation is confidential. It’s a simple, effective process. Those taking part do so voluntarily, with the aim of resolving their differences and finding better ways of working together.

We also offer mediation training courses. If you are thinking of establishing your own in-house workplace mediation service, we offer advice and guidance to help you set this up. We can provide training for your staff and on-going support and supervision. Similarly, we offer support and advice to senior management teams in schools wishing to introduce peer mediation.