The service delivery was profound. I have learned a lot from your mediation — it has helped my thinking in a positive way and my approach and communication with my peer group, work colleagues, and clients.

Restoring Workplace Harmony: A Council’s Success with Mediation and Coaching

Workplace relationships are critical to creating a productive and harmonious environment. However, when relationships break down, they can lead to significant tension, affecting wellbeing, performance, and team dynamics.

A two-party mediation was recently undertaken at Islington Council to address a breakdown in a professional relationship. The outcome? A transformative experience for both parties — with coaching support helping to embed lasting change.

The Challenge

The individuals involved were struggling to communicate effectively. One of the parties is the line manager to the other, and there had been a couple of issues and disagreements between them that had been impacting their working relationship. It was important that both of them continue to work together constructively to support their colleagues and the wider community.

Recognising the importance of early intervention to prevent further tension, Islington Council engaged The TCM Group’s workplace mediation services to provide a structured, confidential space for dialogue and resolution.

The Mediation & Coaching Process

As hoped, the two-party mediation provided a neutral and supportive environment for both individuals to openly share their perspectives, explore underlying issues, and work toward a shared path forward. Guided by a skilled TCM mediator, they were able to rebuild trust and establish clearer, healthier ways of working together.

Following the success of the mediation, the parties embraced an additional coaching session delivered through Engage Coaching by The TCM Group. This next step offered targeted, one-to-one support — helping them reflect, build confidence, and apply the insights gained during mediation in their day-to-day work.

Outcomes

The combined approach of mediation and coaching created a lasting impact, reflected in the following key outcomes:

Improved working relationship: The parties reported a significant improvement in collaboration and mutual respect.
Health and wellbeing: Reduced workplace stress led to improved emotional wellbeing for both individuals.
Enhanced communication: Each participant gained a deeper awareness of their communication style and developed new strategies for engaging with peers and clients.
Sustainable change:
“The service delivery was profound. I have learned a lot from your mediation — it has helped my thinking in a positive way and my approach and communication with my peer group, work colleagues, and clients.”

Following our project impact meeting, Islington Council shared that they had observed a notable shift in team dynamics over six weeks, with both parties maintaining more constructive, open communication and setting an example of positive resolution. They also expressed heartfelt thanks to the TCM team for our support throughout.

Reflections

This case highlights the power of pairing mediation with coaching to not only resolve conflict but support long-term behavioural change and growth. By providing individuals with the tools and space to reflect and move forward with confidence, organisations can create cultures built on accountability, empathy, and collaboration.

TCM has been proud to partner with Islington Council for over ten years, supporting their ongoing efforts to foster a healthy, inclusive, and high-performing workplace culture.