Team Mediation and Team Facilitation.
We support team and groups to resolve their disputes and disagreements constructively.
We resolve the most intractable team conflicts imaginable
When conflict arises in the workplace, it rarely impacts only two individuals. Very often the dispute will spread, having an impact on a wider group, the whole department, and perhaps beyond.
Here at The Mediation Company we have a pool of expert mediators and facilitators who are experienced in handling a full variety of conflicts within teams. Every team is different and each will face unique challenges based on their size, purpose, vision and objectives. Whilst conflict is healthy and it can lead to creative conversations, sometimes it can spill over into division and knock a previously high functioning team off course.
It is precisely at these times that external, professional support can help to get the team back on track.
Just a quick line to thank you for the recent team mediation service provided to RCPCH. A very successful day and working relationships improved enormously. I have always believed in restorative processes and the service offered by The Mediation Company really is excellent and evidences that this is the right approach to resolving workplace conflict.
The five types of team conflict.
Through our experience, we have identified five types of conflict that may typically present within a team:
- All against one: One person has been identified by others as the problem. If not resolved, this can trigger bullying behaviours from the other members of the group.
- The 50:50 split: A team has become divided down the middle. Factions or cliques may have formed. These situations cause a lack of focus, poor productivity, and dysfunction.
- The meltdown: These are dynamic conflicts, with alliances changing frequently. Although exciting for some, many will find it very stressful. Either way, they rarely produce high performance or cohesion.
- The abuser: A charismatic individual abuses their power or authority. We usually get asked to work with these teams when the individual has left, and other team members need help getting back on track.
- Silos: This is all to do with the way that different teams can become opposed to one another. The conflicts are a waste of resources and can undermine organisational effectiveness.
Team Facilitation Overview
Any team can be impacted by conflict, at any time. Sometimes it may be a healthy source of creativity, innovation, and new ideas; but in others, it can spill over into division and dysfunction.
We successfully work with groups and teams ranging from five to fifty participants (and sometimes even more). Our mediators will work with you to prepare fully and agree the terms of reference before meeting all parties individually.
Situations we commonly resolve via team facilitation include:
- A divided project team requiring professional support.
- A team that has been damaged following a grievance.
- A decline in morale and motivation when discrimination and exclusion has been alleged.
- When respect between different disciplines has become fragile, leading to a lack of cooperation, siloed working and and resentment.
We specialise in helping teams to unlock their full potential, by engaging them in constructive and supportive dialogue. The team session is carefully structured to ensure that all team members can participate fully.
The Team Facilitation Process
The team facilitation process follows several stages which can be adapted to meet your unique needs and context:
- Agree scope, terms of reference and timescales. These become the delivery plan.
- Distribute a guidance document and a short confidential questionnaire to all parties.
- Individual meetings between the parties and the facilitator. These may be face to face or online.
- At this stage, we may to mediate between two or three parties if its felt tat would be helpful.
- We then run a team facilitation event or a serves of events depending on the situation and the team dynamics.
- A group action plan or agreement is drawn up and we agree the levels of follow up required.
On the day itself, we create a safe space where all parties can come together to talk about what is affecting them individually and collectively. We then help the team re-connect work together towards a mutually acceptable resolution.
What are the benefits?
Team mediation and facilitation delivers increased levels of motivation, improved synergy and enhanced levels of collaborative working across teams. By creating an open and safe environment, your employees can air their issues and build resilience to make them less vulnerable to future issues.
Other commonly reported benefits include:
- It can prevent conflict from escalating to the stages where it becomes destructive, damaging and dysfunctional.
- It helps to alleviate stress and anxiety, which are common reactions to workplace conflict
- It protects the reputation of the team and your organisation.
- It creates a more harmonious and enjoyable team working environment.
If you have a question, please get in touch...
If you have any questions, or would like to find out more information, please fill in the form and one of our expert team will be in touch as soon as they can.
Alternatively, please click here to drop us an email or call our mediation hotline on 0800 059 0595.
