Life is defined by conflict. Big and small.

You received the wrong order at your restaurant of choice and want to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth without stressing out the waiter. There’s an issue with a co-worker at your job and you’re attempting to figure out the best way to broach the topic without causing further tension. In a short? Mediation is one of the most powerful skills you can have in your arsenal. When even your range isn’t enough to solve the problem at hand, leadership team facilitation can be requested. Conflicts in the workplace aren’t a one-size-fits-all, so requesting a little extra help can mean the world to worker and supervisor alike.

How can you better resolve commercial disputes this year?

Did You Know?

Conflict disputes crop up in some form or another all across the country. In everyday life, in legal matters, the list goes on. The United States sees one divorce being filed every 35 seconds or so. That’s over 2,400 divorces per day, 16,000 divorces per week and a stunning 875,000 divorces per year. The cost of divorce mediation, in particular, is anywhere from 40% to 50% lower than divorce litigation. This is just one of many examples of the benefits of leadership team facilitation. The first step you need to take is remaining clear on what, exactly, is needed from your supervisors, bosses and businessowners.

The Five Components Of Leadership

While no situation is the same, there are ways of simplifying the process for everyone involved. The five main components of relational leadership are empowerment, purposefulness, ethical behaviors, inclusion and process orientation. Empowerment means that each worker is feeling like they are truly part of a team, rather than at the mercy of an uncaring business. Inclusion means embracing a wide variety of perspectives and skillsets. Purposefulness involves giving each worker a sense of self within their task. Ethical behaviors and process orientation mean upholding a company’s standards.

Definition Of Conflict Resolution

Now that you’re familiar with the five components of effective leadership…it’s time to put it to the test. How can you use all of these terms to better address the issues at hand and make sure everyone is leaving satisfied, even though the first thing any leader learns is not everyone can always come out on top? Recent studies have shown over 60% of employees have never received basic conflict management classes or lessons, leaving many woefully unequipped to handle arguments, disagreements and dissatisfaction.

Improving Productivity Through Leadership

Organizations today are doing their best to bridge the gap and put everyone on a more level field moving forward. After all, the typical manager will spend anywhere from 25% to 40% of their time attempting to handle workplace conflicts. In other words? One to two days every week…if it’s going smoothly, that is. Back in 2016 there were over 90,000 workplace discrimination charges filed in the United States and it’s estimated employees spend over two hours each week attempting to deal with conflict. That’s over $300 billion hours paid filled with struggle instead of productivity.

The Benefits Of Leadership Team Facilitation

Whether it’s divorce mediation in the courtroom or employment disputes being brought to light, leadership team facilitation is truly a skill to hone over the coming years. Companies that have invested extra effort toward training their employees and supervisors to better handle conflict have reported significant progress in a matter of months. One study found over 95% stating training helped them better navigate workplace issues in a positive manner. Organizations that adopt mediation and arbitration have seen a 50% reduction in litigation costs, to boot.

Conflict is all around us. What matters is how you handle it.