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Federal ADR Services

Organizational Conflict Management

Conflict Management Program Design

ADR Options is experienced in developing conflict management systems tailored to the unique needs of our clients.  We have designed such programs addressing a wide variety of disputes, ranging from neighborhood, to workplace, to government program, to litigation matters.

Our proven, expert approach to designing the right dispute resolution program for your organization typically involves the following steps:

• Risk/need assessment – what types of conflict is the organization experiencing, and what are the tangible and intangible costs involved?
• Identification of contact points – who in the organization can best identify conflicts as they are occurring, and guide them into an early, mediated settlement process?
• Development of protocols – we provide the steps the organization must follow to identify, refer, and resolve these disputes, and, if appropriate, effectuate the agreed resolutions.
• Training and implementation – we identify who in the organization should be provided the skill set to effectively manage conflict, and/or help the organization obtain the best outside resources, when needed.

ADR Options creates comprehensive systems that target your organization’s unique needs and interests, better ensuring effective, timely, cost-effective and positive outcomes for your organization and its stakeholders.

Conflict Management Training

ADR Options helps groups – from small work units through the entire organization – enhance their performance through learning how to resolve inter-personal and/or organizational conflicts constructively. Our approach begins with an organizational assessment that diagnoses the sources and potential sources of conflicts. Using that assessment data, ADR Options develops a lively, interactive training package customized to the needs and culture of the organization.

ADR Options training programs develop these skills that clients can rely upon to manage conflicts:

• Understanding the sources and types of conflict – and that conflict can be beneficial when it illuminates and leads to the solution of organizational problems
• Differentiating between style and content in communication
• Understanding one’s own conflict style and adapting the style to the circumstances
• Understanding roles and relationships within the organization
• Overcoming discomfort with conflict and developing the confidence to approach another person successfully about an issue
• Responding appropriately when approached about an issue
• Communicating one’s own needs effectively
• Addressing mutual and individual interests
• Developing and analyzing options for problem-solving
• Memorializing agreements

Our tailored, interactive approach assures that the participants develop durable common expectations and practices for resolving conflicts, with long-lasting benefits to the individuals and the organization.

Conflict Coaching

Conflict coaching is a common element in an organzation’s conflict management system.  Conflict coaching combines dispute resolution and coaching principles. It is a one-on-one confidential process to help individuals resolve disputes and prevent unnecessary ones. Many people choose conflict coaching to prepare for mediation or use it for support post-mediation with respect to any challenging aftermath.  When the other party is not willing to use mediation, conflict coaching may give the support, courage and skills needed to bring about the best outcome without an expensive advocate.

Coaching sessions average one hour per week for whatever duration may be needed and are conducted by telephone, face-to-face or electronically.  Your conflict coach will help you find clarity, a new sense of direction and oftentimes more effective relationships.

Training for Organizational Conflict Coaching

Many organizations have begun to use managers and employees to provide peer coaching to others in the organization.  This can be helpful in reducing the amount of time and energy spent within the organization dealing with unresolved conflicts.

Peer conflict coaching utilizes the same one-on-one confidential process as does the conflict coaching that ADR Options provides.  ADR Options trains managers and employees to understand the dynamics of conflict and the emotions inherent in it; understand options available to and the rights of parties in conflict; recognize the basis and responsibilities involved in working with others confidentially within the same organization; understand ways to apply organizational policy and yet support the party being coached; and provide options without judgment.

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