Mediation Services
Unresolved conflicts cost organizations a huge amount of money, time and stress.
Every year, workplace conflict costs US businesses $359 billion per year. Too often, organizations choose formal litigation as a first resort. These traditional grievance procedures encourage and facilitate bad behavior, failing to address root issues, and leaving disaster in their wake.
But conflict doesn’t have to be like this. It can be a creative and constructive conversation if we just know how. That’s where mediation comes in: a restorative one-day process, but also a mindset, a framework, and a set of skills. It requires involved parties to come to a mutual agreement, observed and guided by an objective and confidential mediator. This gives real authority and autonomy to the individual, rather than the adjudicator, far removing the process from the black-and-white outcomes of courtrooms and hearings.
By asking parties to collaborate in an open conversation about the conflict, mediation promotes dialog, compassion, empathy, respect, courage, trust, and tolerance. It’s a values-based and person-centered process, turning fight, flight, freeze or fall responses into flow. Insidious organizational damage is healed, broken relationships are repaired, and both business productivity and personal wellbeing are restored. So much so that we’ve held a 93% success rate in resolving disputes since we started mediating in 2001.
“MEDIATION WORKS! – Unresolved conflict costs a lot more than just money. Our workplace mediation services resolve complex and challenging disputes swiftly, effectively and with as little disruption as possible. Our team of expert and experienced workplace mediators work with all parties in a dispute to establish their underlying needs and interests, encourage dialog and ultimately, facilitate a mutually acceptable resolution.”
How we do it
Our unique Fair Mediation Model™ works to address the root cause of the issue through a pragmatic, problem-solving approach. It’s really effective and has been used by some big names: Royal Mail, HSBC, Aviva, Network Rail, and The Metropolitan Police, alongside universities, hospitals, councils and pharmaceuticals.
After mediation, when restorative resolution is achieved, the minds of the parties previously in conflict open up: creativity and innovation are revitalized, harmony is restored, and trust is re-established.
The benefits are boundless:
- It places responsibility for the resolution directly with the parties.
- It creates a safe place for all sides to have their say and be heard, with uninterrupted speaking time.
- Disputes are halted before they escalate out of control.
- Mediation reduces the stress and anxiety associated with conflict.
- It reduces the risk of litigation and costs of conflict.
- Mediation helps to cultivate a happier, healthier and more harmonious working environment.
How we can help
Our products include:
“You will not be disappointed if you book with TCM.”
“TCM are excellent and specialise in mediation services. They really are the experts in this field. I have used TCM several times and always get good results from them. David and his team always go that extra mile for you. If you do a cost-benefit analysis, TCM are able to save organisations considerable amounts of money. It is also highly rewarding to see staff working together again in a really positive way (in the majority of cases). TCM have a 92% success rate and I would not go anywhere else.”
“We have been working with TCM, in order to set up an In-house Mediation Service. TCM trainers have a passion for resolving conflict & their enthusiasm both engages, inspires and energises others.”
“Our managers say they can’t believe how far two people can come in just one day when things have been so bad between them for so long”.
Over the past two years, mediation has made a significant contribution to our business. By working with TCM to train a team of internal mediators, we have already cut the cost of conflict by many hundreds of thousands of pounds.
“I would wholeheartedly recommend The TCM Group to anyone looking to implement mediation/resolution into their workplace. They are extremely professional, incredibly knowledgeable and very welcoming and relaxed in their approach.”
“It’s very rare to come across someone who is quite so passionate about their area of expertise. David (and the whole TCM team) have been extremely professional, knowledgeable, supportive and not to mention a little patient as we work to implement our mediation scheme in TSB. But that’s not the half of it. What is really striking is David’s absolute belief and commitment that there is a better, more human, way of resolving conflict that benefits everyone from the impacted people to the wider business – it’s completely inspiring and wherever I go in my career from this point, the resolution of conflict is something I will focus on in a way that I never would have in the past. It’s been a pleasure to work with David and the TCM team and I hope that opportunity will crop up again in the future. His book is an excellent read as well.”
“The TCM Group are a great organisation with great people who are passionate about mediation and resolution. We have worked with TCM for over 5 years to deliver a wide range of mediation and conflict management courses and services for the local authorities that we support. We have recommended TCM’s mediation, training and consultancy services to many others and they have always been as impressed as we are.”
“Mediation is an excellent and sustainable form of conflict resolution. The course was intense, educational, well-structured and most of all fun. I particularly liked the mixture of different learning styles that was presented by both trainers and I most certainly feel able to start mediating straight away!”
“Just a quick line to thank TCM for the recent 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 TCM really is excellent and evidences that this this really is the right approach to resolving conflict.”
“A very successful meeting, very constructive and explored all of my concerns. I felt listened to and was able to voice any issues that I had wanted to raise. A very positive outcome was reached.”
“I am very satisfied with the outcome. The mediator explained things well and the mediation was very well structured.“
“The mediator was wonderful – I would strongly recommend TCM to anyone who is experiencing workplace conflict. Thanks to HR for funding this process – it was remarkably helpful.”
“Managers tell me it’s definitely a worthwhile thing to do. As they trust the process and see what can come out of it, more and more are saying “What about mediation?”
“A lot of the principles of mediation are about common sense and disagreements in the workplace often start out as simple misunderstanding.”
“The mediator listened carefully to my views and acted in a very professional manner. I was very happy with the mediator’s approach and outcome as she helped us to identify and evaluate a variety of constructive options.”
“The TCM Model for effectively and efficiently managing workplace conflict can apply to almost any conflict or dispute. We know that feelings, needs, voice and choice underlie virtually every conflict or dispute. The TCM Model focuses on these and other elements. Applying this well thought out approach enlightens and empowers participants as they navigate their way forward while learning to avoid the inflaming effects of blame and shame.”
“I have had the best experience with TCM, and I will be recommending TCM to colleagues interested in mediation.”
How the process works
Mediation doesn’t waste any time.
The process usually lasts for one full day, with four key steps:
- A member of the business support team will liaise to agree dates and logistics.
- The case is allocated to an expert mediation consultant.
- Both (or all) parties will be contacted for an initial introduction and opportunity to answer questions.
- The mediator meets each party individually to explore the past and the present of the conflict in question.
- The mediator meets the parties for a second time to prepare them for the joint meeting.
- The joint mediation meeting involves opening statements from the parties, and questions and a summary by the mediator. Parties will be facilitated in an open exchange and conversation, problem-solving and developing a resolution action plan. The mediation will close with a mutually agreed outcome.
- We check-in at regular intervals once the mediation itself is completed. This is to see how the parties are getting on with their agreements and to provide an opportunity to deliver further support, where needed.
EDF Energy Case Study: Mediation & Early Resolution
With TCM guidance, EDF implemented an early resolution program to compliment their existing formal procedures and align with their zero-harm ethics policy.
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The message couldn’t be clearer: mediation truly works – quickly, effectively and compassionately.
Mediation Services Inquiry
One of our team will be in touch to discuss your requirements with you.
