Resolution Mediation

Resolving conflict is one of the most important skills one can learn to experience success in life. In fact, some say it determines our success. Since conflict is inevitable, what steps can you take to resolve your team’s own conflicts and internal strife? How can you make conflict a win-win proposition, something that will propel [...]

Difficult people do exist at work. Difficult people come in every variety and no workplace is without them. How difficult a person is for you to deal with depends on your self-esteem, your self-confidence and your professional courage. Dealing with difficult people is easier when the person is just generally obnoxious or when the behavior [...]

Some people exude negativity. They don’t like their jobs or they don’t like their company. Their bosses are always jerks and they are always treated unfairly. The company is always going down the tube and customers are worthless. You know these negative Neds and Nellies – every organization has some – and you can best [...]

With a total regular workforce of more than 16,300 faculty and staff, and nearly 16,000 more in the Health System, Penn is a small city that requires an army of dedicated employees to keep the institution running smoothly. In the name of productivity, we all must get along, and for the most part we do. [...]

I often receive calls from people asking if there is a certification process for mediators. The calls come from lawyers who are interested in becoming mediators, from people such as mental health professionals or human resource professionals who refer people to mediation, and at times, from clients who have mediated situations with other mediators. Mediation [...]

At one time or another, all of us engage in disagreement or conflict at work. It can range from an argument with a co-worker to a strategic disagreement with your boss that goes too far. The common thread is the insidious impact workplace conflict has on employee engagement, morale and productivity. That’s why a manager’s [...]

Over the last decade, the legal community has embraced alternative dispute resolution modalities, such as mediation and arbitration, as tools to resolve disputes between litigants.  Both of these options can be very effective in quickly resolving claims. That said, it is prudent to consider other methods before entering into any such agreement. Mediation and arbitration [...]

Misunderstandings and communication problems remain one of the most common sources of workplace strife, and interpersonal difficulties are magnified when conflicting work styles coexist in one setting. Generational differences (baby boomers vs. GenX-ers), personal management styles, educational background, and cultural diversity are all potential sources of office misunderstandings. While conflict is inevitable, it need not [...]

Due to the extensive amount of time we spend in the workplace, it is not surprising that some of the relationships between colleagues can be fraught with conflict and dealing with this conflict requires a management mode that is dissimilar to resolution in many cases. We are often forced to work with people who have [...]

From red tape to pink slips to mandatory training, employees have many reasons to hate the human-resources department. And some bosses share their sentiments—among them Bruce Poon Tip, founder of Toronto-based sustainable-travel company G Adventures (formerly Gap Adventures). So much so that, earlier this year, he eliminated the function altogether. G, a global operator with [...]