I really liked your open and honest approach to training and the fact that you used personal experiences and situations. The training turned out to be perfect timing and also a wonderful team building opportunity; [we] quickly put your training into practice with two mediations and were both on highs after two positive outcomes and receiving very positive feedback. It was very timely and both great and very different experiences which helped to integrate the training I received.
Introduction to Mediation (2 days)
Manage low level workplace conflict with ease
Why you need an introductory mediation skills programme
Workplace conflict feels awkward. It’s the scenario you’d love to avoid, yet you seem to get pulled in to all the worst cases.
You don’t hate the conflict; you hate the feeling of getting it wrong or making things worse.
Mediation isn’t just about sitting two people in a room and getting them to talk again. It’s the ability to help individuals to separate emotion from the situation and to help them find a way forward without judgement.
It’s being able to offer an alternative to a senior leader’s “desired” outcome and find a resolution which both parties sign up to.
Effective workplace mediation is the foundation to rebuilding collaboration.
It also gives you enhanced communication skills you can use in all parts of your life, not just in conflict situations. The ability to really listen is an underrated skill, yet it’s essential for all your relationships.
Reserve your placeWhat you’ll get
Interactive and practical, you’ll immerse yourself in mediation skills for 2 days.
Lead by Sarah Crayford-Brown and Lizanne Keenan, you’ll learn from the best. With backgrounds in management, legal and HR, Sarah and Lizanne are both full-time mediators with hundreds of hours of experience which they bring to the programme.
You’ll benefit from:
- real-life case studies which bring mediation to life
- a demonstration with actors on day one to help you appreciate the real impact of mediation
- role play exercises you practice in a safe environment, before you go back to the office.
- achieving Level 3 Award in Understanding Mediation on completion of the programme, accredited by OCN London and the College of Mediators.
Most importantly, you get the skills to deal with low level workplace conflict. You’ll feel confident addressing these situations and will no longer find yourself distracted and stressed by the “what ifs”.
Reserve your placeWhat the introductory mediation programme covers
As well as the core topics below, you’ll experience what it’s like to “receive” mediation, helping you appreciate an attendees’ perspective.
Day 1
- Conflict - Understanding the theory and psychology
- Mediation – Understanding the process
- Exploring key mediation skills
- How mediation fits with other forms of conflict resolution
- Pros and cons of mediation
- Helping you use mediation at work
Day 2
- Mediation – exploring the different types available
- Mediation – structure and the mediator’s role
- Co-mediation
- Prejudice – managing yourself and others
- Practical mediation assessment
- Managing concerns and challenges
- Exploring what a good outcome might be
- The written portfolio and discussing expectations
- Making the best of your new skills
Understanding the practicalities
Open enrolment programmes
We speak to everyone before they attend one of our training programmes to ensure you’re enrolling on the right programme to meet your needs.
Each open session has a maximum of 8 attendees and the programme typically runs 9.00 – 5.00 on both days.
The programme takes place at a central Bath venue, which is easily accessible by car and train.
The programme is £850 per person (no added VAT). A £200 deposit is required to secure your place.
Dedicated company programmes
Some organisations prefer to have workplace mediation programmes designed specifically for their teams. Typically, this happens when you’re seeing:
- An increase in grievances.
- Nervousness from your key managers around tackling conflict.
- Senior leadership time being absorbed by low level disputes.
You want to move away from the blame culture of grievances. Instead, you want to build a collaborative culture where dispute resolution happens as standard. So, you’re looking for:
- Introductory mediation skills rolled out to your management teams (2 days)
- Accredited programmes to develop qualified in-house workplace mediators (6 days).
- Bespoke programmes using mediation skills to address key line management challenges
An in-house mediation programme:
- allows colleagues to learn together and support each other after the programme.
- develops a shared language and understanding across teams.
- enables a focus on dispute resolution rather than sanctions.
And with the option to train people on- or off-site, you can ensure they benefit from the best learning environment for them.
To discuss your needs and explore this option further, chat with Lizanne.
Meet your tutors
Sarah Crayford-Brown
“There is no one right way to mediate. There are many ways and I love to celebrate with delegates as they find the approach which works for them.”
Sarah has mediated hundreds of disputes and delivered hours of training, giving her access to all the stories you need to make your mediation skills stick. Her approach centres on giving you tools so you find the ones that work best for you. And she’ll celebrate with you as you develop your capability and confidence.
She doesn’t pass judgement on the skills you have, she just shares her feedback to make you the best mediator you can be. And she has a passion for mediation which is second to none. Workplace mediation is what makes her tick, and that’s how people know they’re learning from the best.
Find Out More
Lizanne Keenan
“People are people. When you truly understand that, you can work with everyone and get to the heart of what really matters”.
understand people and identify what you need is undeniable. She can get to the root of a problem you don’t even realise you have. And she does all that because she knows what it’s like in your shoes.
From shop floor line manager to senior HR professional, and everything in between, Lizanne’s been both sides of the table and she can relate to you in a way very few others can. She’s had the difficult conversations, understands the scenarios you describe, and speaks your language. Not because she’s read it in a textbook, but because she’s lived it, and come out the other side.
Find Out MoreDelegate feedback
On behalf of the group, we have all come away from the training finding it really helpful and would highly recommend for any HR professionals or aspiring mediators to undertake. From discussions we’ve had there are a few in the group that would be keen to explore doing the full qualification so watch this space we’ll be coming back to you. 10/10 you were amazing.