Mediation and facilitation provide people with a chance to talk in a way that supports effective communication and a more comfortable work environment. Simply having the opportunity to talk, with the assistance of an independent person, can make a big difference to a workplace relationship that has been impacted on by conflict.
Mediation/ facilitation involves an independent consultant assisting people to talk through issues that have impacted on their working relationship. These types of situations can include:
- Difficulties in workplace communication
- Having a challenging conversation
- Addressing a complaint or a grievance
- Recovering from conflict and reaching agreements
- Improving teamwork or practices
While mediation/ facilitation can provide a helpful step forward from a difficult period, it is not a 'magic wand' that will solve everything. When a good outcome is achieved from a meeting it can become a good platform to work from for the future of the relationship.