Globis Mediation Group’s Founding Director Clive Lewis has written a helpful handbook for dealing with difficult conversations.

Recent research indicates that over 70% of line managers struggle with difficult conversations.

The advice inside leads readers to proactively deal with difficult issues quickly, enabling you to remain positive and move on.

In ‘Difficult Conversations – 10 Steps to Becoming a Tackler not a Dodger’, straight to the point guidance and easy read extracts put you in the best position to negotiate your way through awkward situations, situations that otherwise could develop into daunting and time consuming issues if they are avoided.

The ten steps in the handbook fall into ‘before’, ‘during’ and ‘after’ categories that encourage suitable preparation, courageous implementation and the maintenance of the positive attitude required to be a tackler. In the current climate where workplace conflict reduces productivity and costs organisations hundreds of thousands of pounds, this handbook can help to provide huge savings.

Read the full Sunday Times Article here.

The consultation, conducted by the Department for Business, Skills & Innovation (BIS) and the Ministry of Justice’s Tribunals Service, is a significant first step in taking forward the Government’s review of employment law. The Government is seeking views on measures to:

• achieve more early resolution of workplace disputes so that parties can resolve their own problems, in a way that is fair and equitable for both sides, without having to go to an employment tribunal
• ensure that, where parties do need to come to an employment tribunal, the process is as swift, user-friendly and effective as possible; and
• help businesses and social enterprises feel more confident about hiring people

Please click here to read Globis Mediation Group’s response to the Government’s consultation on resolving workplace disputes.

Globis Mediation Group is delighted to announce its partnership with the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb). CIArb has selected Globis to be its sole provider of workplace mediation training. The institute has 12,000 members in over 100 countries and is a not-for-profit, UK registered charity working in the public interest through an international network of branches. It has a global membership of individuals who have professional training in private dispute resolution. CIArb exists for the global promotion, facilitation and development of all forms of private dispute resolution to maximise the contribution that dispute resolution practitioners make.

Globis, led by Clive Lewis MCIArb, will deliver the workplace mediation training courses within CIArb’s unique Mediation Pathway, which offers a complete route for the beginner to the experienced practitioner. 

There are various courses to choose from which include a 1 day introduction course, a full 5 day training course and a 3 day conversion course designed for those who are trained civil/commercial mediators, looking to add workplace and employment mediation to their portfolio.

The courses will be: 

• Workplace Mediation Conversion course 

• Workplace Mediation Training 

• Workplace Mediation Accreditation Assessment

• Introduction to Workplace Mediation 

For further information please visit www.ciarb.org

News release

7^th March 2011

New Charter Housing Trust Group partners with Globis Mediation Group

Globis Mediation Group has been chosen by New Charter Housing Trust Group to provide training to a selection of its managers on having difficult conversations. Managing difficult conversations is now the most popular non mediation training course run by Globis. Globis has designed this training course to help delegates understand that difficult conversations do not need to be as daunting as they appear, and highlights the benefits that managing difficult conversations can bring to them as individuals, and to their organisation. The course focuses on teaching delegates how to manage difficult conversations, still achieve business objectives and keep important relationships intact.

The first session was delivered in January 2011, and a further day of training will be delivered in April. Delegates from the January course came to the session with a range of experience of having difficult conversations and all left with their existing skills developed and refined having thoroughly enjoyed the interactive day. Jane Blackburn, Director of Organisational Transformation from the New Charter Housing Trust Group commented “We already have highly skilled managers throughout the company and this training has been designed to complement that high skill-base. Thankfully, difficult conversations are something of a rarity here at New Charter, but this training will ensure that when managers need to have them, they are well equipped to do so”.

Clive Lewis, Director of Globis Mediation Group, is delighted to be supporting New Charter Housing Trust Group with this training and commented: “Working with New Charter Housing Trust Group has been an absolute pleasure. We are delighted to be supporting them with this training that will offer real results to their individual managers, and the wider organisation. Recent research suggests that 60% of line managers feel unable to have difficult conversations that in the current economic climate are becoming an increasingly common part of managers’ roles. This unwillingness to tackle problematic issues, from addressing a poor performer who is dragging the department down to dealing with a conflict that has arisen between two colleagues, often has a derogatory effect on individual and team morale, which, if left unchecked, often then leads to reduced productivity and output, which has an obvious knock on effect for the company as a whole.”

Note to editors:

About New Charter Housing Group

• New Charter formed as the new landlords to own and manage homes transferred from Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council in Greater Manchester in March 2000. Then, it was Britain’s biggest Large Scale Voluntary Transfer. Now, with a turnover of £59million a year, a stock of 18,600 homes and a workforce of over 800, New Charter is one of the largest Registered Social Landlords based in the North West.

• New Charter is the first housing association in the country to sponsor an Academy, a new type of school. It opened on two campuses in Ashton-under-Lyne in September 2008.

• Best Companies rated New Charter a three star “extraordinary” organisation in 2010. We are one of just 50 companies in Britain holding this accreditation and one of only two housing organisations. Best Companies uses a ‘Michelin style’ star rating for organisations that demonstrate high levels of employee engagement. Based on staff feedback, organisations receive a Best Companies index score which determines their star rating compared to a fixed standard. 

About Globis  

• Globis is one of the UK’s leading national providers of people management and mediation training services specialising in helping companies to build better relationships in the workplace and operate in both the public and private sectors.

• Globis launched its ‘how to’ series of course based on the requirements of managers – they include ‘how to prevent bullying and harassment’, ‘how to win through diversity’ and ‘how to manage challenging behaviour’.

• Globis director, Clive Lewis, is the author of ‘The Definitive Guide to Workplace Mediation’ and his second book on stories of conflict is due to be published in May 2011.

For more information or to request an interview call Helen Robinson on 0330 100 0809 or email Helen.robinson@globis.co.uk

Globis Mediation Group is delighted to have been re-elected to the board of the Civil Mediation Council (CMC) for a second term. 2011 is shaping up to be a very exciting time for the mediation industry, and Globis Mediation Group is very much looking forward to being able to contribute through this role.  

Globis Mediation Group would like to thank all of those that voted.  

News Release: 27th January 2011

The Government has announced the details for its plan to review employment laws. They are proposing new plans to improve the way that workplace disputes are resolved as part of an Employer’s Charter. The Charter is part of the Government’s plan to boost confidence in small businesses to recruit new workers and support economic growth.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“Today’s announcements on reforms to employment law are among the first conclusions of our government-wide growth review, and highlight our determination to ensure that employment law is no longer seen as a barrier to growth, while making sure that employees and employers are treated fairly.

Giving businesses the confidence to take on somebody new will be a real boost to the economy, and help generate the sustainable business growth we need”.

Clive Lewis, Director of the Globis Mediation Group and author of ‘Resolving conflict at Work’ and ‘The Definitive Guide to Workplace Mediation’said “This is good news. For some time I have said that conflict in the workplace costs money. The Government’s plan to reform the way workplace disputes are handled is timely and will make a make a major contribution to helping the UK economy get back on its feet – particularly for small businesses that employ the majority of the working population in the UK.

Employer’s Charter

The Employer’s Charter has been produced to give employers greater certainty on what steps they can take when handling workplace issues with staff and covers a wide range of employment law scenarios.

Public Consultation

The government is seeking views to on measures to:

1. Achieve more early resolution of workplace disputes so that parties can resolve their own problems, in a way that is fair and equitable for both sides, without having to go to an employment tribunal.
2. Ensure that, where parties do need to come to an employment tribunal, the process is as swift, user-friendly and effective as possible.
3. Help businesses and social enterprise feel more confident about hiring people

The Employer’s Charter aims to correct many of the myths about what an employer is and isn’t able to do in managing their staff fairly and legally.

The Government wants to hear views and opinions on the Employer’s Charter and is encouraging interested parties to engage in the discussion.

The Globis Mediation Group will be engaging with customers to seek views as part of forming its response to the Consultation. For more information, contact on Helen.robinson@globis.co.uk or Tel: 0330 100 0809

About the Globis Mediation Group

• Globis is one of the UK’s leading national providers of workplace mediation services.
• Globis director, Clive Lewis, is the author of ‘Resolving Conflict at Work and The Definitive Guide to Workplace Mediation’.
• Globis is a Board member of the Civil Mediation Council.
• Setting up and managing in-house mediation schemes is a core part of Globis’ service. Globis has recently set up in-house mediation schemes for Queen Mary, University of London, Met Office, a number of NHS Trusts and Local Authorities.

Links: BIS Press Notice

Clive Lewis’ recent article ‘mediation in the boardroom’ has now been published on the website www.mediate.com. Mediate.com is the world’s leading mediation website with over 4 million annual visitor sessions.

To view the article, please click here.

Further articles by Clive will also be published on www.mediate.com shortly.

News release

10^th January 2011

Met Office selects Globis Mediation Group as mediation training partner

Globis Mediation Group has been chosen by Met Office to provide accredited mediation training for selected staff. The training will support a new initiative of utilising mediation to help build better relationships in the workplace. The UK’s national weather service recognises the considerable role that mediation can play in managing and reducing workplace disputes. The provision of the accredited training signifies Met Office embracing this powerful dispute resolution tool.

With the first cohort of delegates having commenced the flagship Globis National Employment and Workplace Mediation Certificate Robin Harbach, Head of HR Operations, said “The Met Office is probably best known for providing weather forecasting products and pioneering research into climate change.  What we are less well known for is the work we are doing to positively impact our own organisational climate.  There is a strong relationship between how well staff get on with each other, which influences how it feels to work in an organisation (what we call the organisational climate), and resulting business performance”.

Clive Lewis, Director of Globis Mediation Group is delighted to be providing this training and commented “Mediation is a rapidly growing area within the UK. With research putting the cost of conflict within workplace in the UK at £24billion, it presents perhaps the largest untapped area of cost reduction within organisations. Organisations that have embraced mediation have been able to quantify considerable savings in relation to management time and money. The coalition government are supporters of mediation, and are aiming to encourage its use across UK business”.

Note to editors:

About Met Office

• Met Office employ around 1,920 people at 60 sites across the world, most (about 1,200) working out of their headquarters at Exeter.
• As the UK’s national weather service Met Office is responsible for providing weather and other related services in support of national need — to help protect life and property; safeguard the environment, and contributes to national security and sustainable development.
• The Met Office provides a range of information under the Public Weather Service (PWS), which is funded by the UK Government.The public values the Met Office’s services at £353.2 million. Valuation of benefit from the Cabinet Office, Environment Agency and Civil Aviation Authority showed a minimum additional contribution to the UK economy and society of at least £260.5 million per annum.
• Met Office provides objective and impartial information to parliamentarians and their offices, on request, and presents evidence to a wide range of parliamentary committees, as required. It also submits evidence to consultations on issues of corporate interest and scientific expertise.

• Met Office headquarters in Exeter have been awarded an ‘Excellent’ BREEAM rating certification by the  Building Research Establishment, recognising the environmental attributes of the site, including: channeling rain water from around the site, which is then treated and reused to flush the toilets;
• a fully automatic lighting system which responds to occupancy and natural light levels and automatically switches off lights in our meeting rooms once an hour
• making use of the cool air at night and the heat from the building during the day to heat and cool the building as the seasons and weather dictate;

About Globis

• Globis is one of the UK’s leading national providers of workplace mediation services.
• Globis director, Clive Lewis, is the author of ‘The Definitive Guide to Workplace Mediation’.
• Globis is a Board member of the Civil Mediation Council.
• Setting up and managing in-house mediation schemes is a core part of Globis’ service. Queen Mary, University of London, is a recent client that Globis has supported with this provision.

A new ACAS code of practice introducing the concept mediation for the first time was introduced in April 2009.

For more information or to request an interview call Helen Robinson on 0330 100 0809 or email Helen.robinson@globis.co.uk

19th October 2010:  Wednesday 3^rd November is National Stress Awareness Day and to mark the occasion, Globis Mediation Group is offering free half day employee stress awareness training sessions. During the session, participants will learn what stress and well-being are and how strategies can be developed to help them deal with pressures and demands to avoid them causing unnecessary stress.  The training includes:

• How to recognise your own signs of stress
• How to identifying coping strategies you may already use and find ways of developing these further
• Training in diaphragmatic breathing techniques (which can be used anywhere at any time to bring calm to an individual)
• Techniques based on brief cognitive behaviour therapy to find helpful, realistic ways of reacting to situations
• How to understand your own role and responsibilities in managing the stress and wellbeing levels for you and your team

For further details please contact Helen Robinson on 0330 100 0809 or helen.robinson@globis.co.uk

To go to the Health & Safety Executive website to view more on the event please click here  

November 10, 2010

9:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Globis Mediation Group and EEF will be hosting a joint mediation seminar on 10^th November 2010

Summary:

It is estimated that workplace conflict costs £24bn a year, with some line managers spending more than a day a week managing associated issues such as sickness absence, grievances and litigation and poor employee engagement, quality and customer relations issues. The business case for managing the risk of conflict and using mediation – a very effective tool – is compelling.

To book your place, click here:

Who should attend Mediation: controlling the risk and cost of workplace conflict?

This half-day seminar will be of particular benefit to HR professionals with responsibility for shaping the company’s response to employment problems.

What are the benefits of attending Mediation: controlling the risk and cost of workplace conflict?

Delegates will:

• Understand how the mediation process works
• Understand how mediation fits with an organisation’s existing processes and procedures (including discipline, grievance and harassment procedures)
• Evaluate the potential savings to the business of using this tool
• Appreciate from case studies what the benefits and pitfalls are

Date & Location:

November 10 2010, EEF Birmingham

Price:               [£95.00 (excl VAT) – EEF members

[£110.00 (excl VAT) - non-members

This seminar is being held in partnership with EEF. To book your place, click here:

About EEF: EEF is a manufacturers’ organisation, supporting more than 5500 businesses across the UK. EEF have a unique combination of business services, government representation and industry intelligence. No other organisation is better placed to provide the skills, knowledge and networks they need to thrive.