Conflict Management

(mediation)

DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION EVER EXPERIENCE CONFLICT? HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO IT?

Wouldn't it be wonderful if people could simply renounce their bad habits and decide to respond to conflict in a gracious and constructive way? But it is not that easy. In order to break free from the pattern they have fallen into, they need to understand why they react to conflict the way they do.

Conflict is not necessarily bad or destructive. Even when conflict is caused by sin and causes a great deal of stress, God can use it for good (see Rom. 8:28-29). As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 10:31-11:1, conflict actually provides three significant opportunities ALL OF WHICH are totally overlooked in most conflict because people naturally focus on escaping from the situation or overcoming their opponent.

Therefore, it is wise to periodically step back from a conflict and ask yourself whether you are doing all that you can to take advantage of these special opportunities.

THIS SEMINAR IS DESIGNED TO DEMONSTRATE TO PARTICIPANTS SOME METHODS TO WHICH THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED.

MEDIATION

This seminar will also introduce participants to the mediation process. This process can be useful to not only small businesses, but also to the caring community (doctor’s offices, rest homes, hospice, medical staff and family etc. Educational organizations have also benefited from this process as well as the industrial community.

Even when you manage to resolve personal offenses, you may still need to deal with substantive issues, which may involve money, property, or the exercise of certain rights. These issues should not be swept under the carpet or automatically passed to a higher authority. Instead, they should be negotiated in a biblically faithful manner.

As a general rule, you should try to negotiate substantive issues in a cooperative manner rather than a competitive manner. In other words, instead of aggressively pursuing your own interests and letting others look out for themselves, you should deliberately look for solutions that are beneficial to everyone involved. Mediation provides this opportunity.

Most times a professional is needed to be called in to mediate, but organizations should considert having a staff member or volunteer, with such skills.