Family Business Mediators Are Third Party Conflict Resolution Providers

Conflict is a natural part of human affairs. We often try to avoid it, but when we embrace and work through conflicts, this can lead to new levels of creativity in the workplace.
The problem is that most people do not have very good conflict resolution skills.  They tend to get defensive and too personal and [...]

The Neutral as Lie Detector: You Can’t Judge Participants by Their Demeanor (1)

by Bruce Fraser (2)
As mediators we are often faced with sharply conflicting stories. One of the advantages of mediation is that we sometimes can solve the underlying problem without determining who did what, to whom, and when.
Indeed, experience has shown that mediation is not a good process for finding the truth because it has [...]

The Role of Engagement in Problem Resolution

 Emotional engagement is a significant component of effective conflict management and problem resolution. 
The art of managing disagreement is driven by the ability to have the parties actively engaged with the facilitator and with each other around finding a mutually agreeable solution to the problem.  They must trust the facilitator and the process. 
It is important to [...]

Conflict Resolution Strategies in the Workforce

Conflict in the work environment is inevitable. When two or more people have to work together and combine ideas, the doorway of conflict is ever open.
The goal is to learn how to use conflict as a tool that can benefit the whole, rather than destroy it and the idea of concern. A team must have [...]