Ombuds and conflict management

In companies and organizations, conflict between people who work together is part of everyday life. Between individuals, groups and departments, conflicts can arise that drag on over time and sometimes end up in court. Even when they stay latent or seem small, they can affect people's wellbeing, the working environment and motivation.

Have you ever thought about how much conflict costs your organization? Legal fees, time taken away from work, lower efficiency and productivity, people losing their commitment.

I offer companies and organizations my twenty years of experience as a mediator and trainer, with interventions built around the context, the size and the needs of each organization:

• Independent, external ombuds service, to give employees and members of the organization a neutral, informal and confidential point of contact.
• Design of conflict prevention and resolution systems (Conflict Management Systems), to give the organization ways and tools to deal with difficulties before they get worse.
• Training in Conflict Competencies and Conflict coaching, to help people prepare for difficult conversations and deal with the conflicts they are involved in.

Who is the Ombuds?

The Ombuds is someone people can turn to in order to talk about problems, conflicts and difficult situations in their workplace, including when they involve unwanted behaviour, discrimination or harassment.

The Ombuds does not replace or interfere with official channels such as human resources and legal affairs: it complements them, offering people a first port of call for listening and discussion – completely confidential, non-judgmental and safe – where they can talk about their situation and get help in choosing the best way to deal with it. A choice that is often a difficult dilemma, made even harder by the fear of the consequences a person might face in deciding to bring their situation to light.

If you are curious about this role, I will be happy to tell you more about it and to explain the benefits it can bring to your company.