Clive Lewis OBE is one of the UK’s thought leaders on the topic of mediation in the workplace. A former HR director, he has mediated hundreds of disputes and is one of a small number of mediators who also have front line organisational experience. He is founder and managing director of Globis. Clive was invited to advise the panel that led the Gibbons Review in 2007, which led to the proposed repeal of the statutory grievance and disciplinary procedures. Clive is also the chair of the Civil Mediation Council.

He says "I wrote this guide to assist everyone who works: employees, leaders and managers of all kinds of corporations. Everyone can learn more about building better relationships at work which will lead to personal and organisational improvement. I spent 20 years in corporate organisations, working firstly in operations, followed by HR, (Human Resources) and six as HR director.

After resolving many relationship breakdowns between my colleagues, as HR director, it was pointed out unwittingly to me that I had established somewhat of a reputation for being a problem solver. It was after helping resolve a particularly difficult dispute between some of my fellow directors that a colleague tapped me on the shoulder and referred to me as Kofi Annan. I had no idea that the activity I was engaging in had a badge sometimes referred to as conflict resolution or mediation. It was this comment that prompted me to look deeper into an area that I had developed a natural leaning towards. After taking the route to becoming an accredited mediator, I begun to help many individuals and organisations find a way of building relationships and working together in a way that didn’t involve a tribunal or some other legal process. The success I have witnessed compels me to tell others about an alternative option for managing workplace relationships and adding value for organisations."