A myriad of personalities convene in an organization for the purpose of shared goals, even while under pressure from managers, customers, and financial needs. This is certainly a setting where conflict can arise frequently. Some leaders may decide to handle conflict on their own, or perhaps just ignore it altogether. But when conflict is ignored or mismanaged, it can have long-lasting negative impacts on employees and products alike, as morale, turnover, productivity, and customer service can all be subtly or not-so-subtly harmed by chronic tensions, poor attitudes, and low expectations. This is why some organizations prefer to bring in a conflict resolution company to get support in properly managing these issues. But you might be wondering: what does a conflict resolution company do?
What Does a Conflict Resolution Company Do?
A conflict resolution company has specialists who focus on the psychology and social dynamics of groups and how they relate and communicate. This insight can help get into the corners of the conflict that need tending to which are otherwise often glossed over for the sake of productivity and returning to business as usual. But glossing over these important pieces of conflict often causes them to return again. Here are some ways conflict resolution companies address the roots of these issues so they don’t grow back as easily:
Workplace Peacemaking
For instance, a conflict coaching program may contain different components that begin with one-on-one interviews with the individuals involved with the conflict. In these interviews, efforts are made to get to know each participant and get a deeper understanding of the issues at hand. This also allows each participant to prepare to engage in the upcoming dialogue with others by getting their voice heard and their needs met first.
Eventually they will come together with the other person involved in the conflict to engage in dyadic dialogue facilitated by the conflict specialist. The goal of this dialogue would be to work collaboratively toward a solution in which everyone benefits some and everyone agrees on outcomes and participation. Following that, the conflict specialist would host a series of coaching sessions with each individual to assess the solutions as they have been implemented to ensure they are working and that trust is building. This helps create long-term positive impacts and allows for changes to be made if things are headed in the wrong direction. It also helps everyone involved learn how to ongoingly assess, identify and implement needed changes. Resolution is never a fixed state, so mindfulness and communication are needed assets to continued peace.
Customized Trainings
A good conflict resolution company will be able to provide a variety of conflict resolution services for workplaces large and scale. They’ll be able to tailor their conflict trainings to the organizations in order to meet their specific goals, needs, and unique systemic issues. They’ll use their expert conflict practitioners who have experience and education in the field of study to apply real world applications to the team.
These include basic and more advanced communication skills such as mastering the importance of understanding language, body position, tone, and other verbal and non-verbal impacts on communication, as well as how they can contribute to or prevent conflict. They will provide comprehensive conflict resolution skills, offer education on the psychological dynamics of conflict, and give step by step guides on how to shift from reaction to response, slowing down emotional reactivity and responding from a more rationally balanced place. For managers, conflict resolution specialists can help to increase competency around addressing the unspoken needs of everyone involved while employing reflective listening and dialogue skills, and creative conflict resolution skills.
Foster Emotional Intelligence
A conflict resolution company can help hone in on the root causes of conflict which stem from individual self-awareness. They can foster an exploration of how our personal identity and relationship with our humanity can help us foster a more conscious, inclusive, and equitable workplace, acknowledging issues of discrimination and harassment and removing them.
Practical Skills for Leaders
Conflict resolution companies can help leaders get clear about what next steps are needed in their organization. Managers can learn de-escalation skills, mediation techniques and other hands-on conflict prevention strategies in the workplace that will allow them to contain and address issues before they get out of hand. Conflict resolution specialists can also partner with your HR department or people operations to help identify processes or policies that may need changing in order to foster a more cooperative work environment where instance of conflict are reduced.
What does a conflict resolution company do? If you’re still not sure but find yourself wanting to know more, it might be time to reach out. Speaking with the professionals to get your questions answered directly can set you and your team up for success. Contact Pollack Peacebuilding Systems today to get the right solutions for your team.
