The truth is that I am a terrible marketer. The fact that I have been in business and practicing mediation for 20 years belies my poor marketing record. Given the type of year that 2020 has been -- pandemic, civil unrest, financial hardship, and political turmoil (to name a few challenges) -- the work that I and my fellow colleagues do, which encompasses a commitment to creating and supporting peaceful solutions, is more important than ever. And we need to be actively sharing and promoting what we do !
In the words of many leaders reflecting on 2020, including Tecovas founder, Paul Hedrick: "We're not looking back, choosing instead to look forward with optimism and determination at all the years ahead." As a mediator, I approach my clients with an optimism and determination that given the right opportunity and safe environment, one can begin the healing and start to resolve even the most complex and painful interpersonal conflicts. While we cannot undo the past, we can learn from it and make decisions today and tomorrow that will help us write the story that reflects the life we want to live and the businesses we want to create, operate and work for. Helping Real People Find Real Solutions is more than a tagline. The impact of harmful interpersonal conflict -- stress, anxiety, fear, pain, loss -- is an emotional and financial toll to those directly and indirectly impacted by conflict. Whether it is the team that is unable to complete work timely because of conflict between 2 team members, or a manager that lacks emotional intelligence and causes chaos in the workplace, or 2 parents that are independently trying to raise their children among feelings of hurt and distrust following a nasty divorce, these are real people dealing with real issues that can benefit from the opportunity to rewrite the current conflict story into one that is based on real solutions. How do I support Helping Real People Find Real Solutions? As a mediator, I listen from a space of neutrality, protect the space by keeping all information confidential (with a few mandated exceptions), and facilitate the space for client self-determination of the outcome. Here is an example of the power of mediation that has stuck with me for years: Early on in my career I was working with 2 adult siblings and their respective spouses. They had not talked in years despite living in the same town! The atmosphere in the mediation room was palpably hostile when they first entered and sat down around the table. They wouldn't even look at each other and were curt with me and my co-mediator. They clearly did not want to be there and were fearful about what to expect. I do not recall what the issue was that brought them to mediation that day and they did not come to a resolution during those 2 hours. However, at the end of the mediation session, there were hugs, tears and promises to start reunifying their estranged relationship. I really appreciated the ability of mediation and trusting of the process that created the potential for these siblings to start healing their relationship. It was powerful! I am committed to marketing mediation and the power of effective conflict management but I need your help! Will you please sign up for the eNewsletter (see Home page) and/or share this post with another? Thank you in advance. I look forward to connecting with you and hearing your stories of optimism and determination. #optimism #determination #marketing #conflictmanagement #commitment
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Leadership is a complex role in any organization. Whether governmental, not-for-profit or private, leaders are tasked with a myriad of expectations by the people that make up the organization. According to several business research articles, effective communication is the top leadership trait of successful leaders; conversely, poor communication is a top cause of ineffectiveness as a leader (see: engagedly.com, huffpost.com, ceocoachinginternational.com, economist.com)
Consistent traits of successful leaders also include: trust, honesty, integrity, appreciation, ability to manage change and give direction, and conflict management. These are all traits embodied in Emotional Intelligence (Daniel Goleman). Successful leaders have learned to keep their focus on leading, not bogged down in the day to day functions and distractions that can be handled more expertly by others. Take a moment to assess your organizational functions and the responsible party:
It is common today to outsource services that allow you to keep the focus on what you do well. Have you outsourced to HR experts to manage your hiring and keep your organization compliant? An accountant to manage the accounts and bookkeeping needs? A mediator who supports interpersonal conflict resolution when 2 or more employees can't get along and are creating a toxic environment? CGMSLLC is offering mediation and conflict coaching outsourcing services to businesses like yours that currently have no other formal resource for addressing interpersonal conflict. The service contract is based on a pre-set number of hours that is customized to fit the size of your organization. Packages start at 15 hours/year for $1200/year. Other services are available to complement the mission and goals of your business. Feeling like this is an expense that you can't afford? Get curious and check out the following link that provides a quantitative analysis of the hidden cost of unmanaged conflict. www.mediationworks.com/conflict-cost-calculator/. Check back on this website for a short video, The Hidden Cost of Conflict, narrated by Communication and Conflict Management Consultant, Sunny Sassaman. This video will walk you through the formula and demonstrate the value of an integrated conflict management system (ICMS). A conflict management partner is part of the ICMS. Please share and comment about your experiences with outsourcing and interpersonal workplace conflict. #icms #dandana #hiddencostofconflict #outsourcing |
AuthorSunny E. Sassaman Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution Consultant Archives
November 2022
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