Walking the tightrope – conflict and the HR role

Human Resource departments often find themselves walking a tightrope, balancing the needs of the individual and good people management practice with the demands of the business and organisational pressures. At these times, working relationships come under pressure and can be strained beyond their tolerances. This informal workshop explores how HR practitioners can bring conflict resolution skills and processes to bear on difficult situations.

Specific outcomes

By the end of the workshop, participants will be better able to:

• Assess how their organisation currently responds to and manages conflict
• Understand the scope and limits of their own role as in-house ‘independents’
• Use a model for identifying the needs, interests and fears of those in dispute
• Coach line-managers in the use of this model to manage their own conflicts
• Promote mediation as part of an informal in-house dispute resolution system
• Use independent third parties appropriately in workplace conflict
• Support and encourage colleagues in working constructively with conflict.