HR challenges

The importance of good working relationships cannot be overstated. When a relationship is fraught, stress increases and performance drops. When people don’t, for whatever reason, have the resources to rectify the situation themselves then an external mediator is called for. We provide a mediation service that is built on many years of experience as professional counsellors, a deep understanding of the dynamics of relationships and a keen awareness of business needs.

In situations where allegations of bullying and harassment have been made and the situation has not been resolved at local level a formal investigation will be required. We conduct these investigations for our clients, in accordance with best practice and the client’s “Dignity at Work” policies and procedures. (If you do not have such a policy, we can assist.) In addition to objectivity, fairness and natural justice we believe investigations should be marked by sensitivity (it’s a stressful time for all parties involved) and be conducted as expeditiously as possible. Also, our investigation reports are clear, concise and highly accessible.

The impact of bullying and harassment on an individual can be quite devastating. Self-confidence and self-belief can evaporate. Victims therefore very often need understanding support before, during and/or after making a formal complaint or through or after an investigation process. We provide coaching support so that the victim can not only leave the bullying experience behind but learn and grow through it.

Bullying and harassment cannot be tolerated in the workplace (or elsewhere) yet it doesn’t follow that perpetrators (whether they have ‘pleaded guilty’ or found so by a formal investigation) cannot be re-instated as respected and valuable members of the team. Our service assists the perpetrator to clearly see the impact of their behaviour, accept full responsibility for it and to acquire more effective social skills for working with and through others.

We can facilitate you in becoming an effective coach through learning a positive approach to motivating and facilitating change in others.

Conflict is inevitable in the workplace. It can, if managed effectively, be a source of creative solutions, strengthening of relationships and the reinforcement of trust. If however the conflict is ignored, glossed over or managed ineffectively it can be destructive of relationships, trust and productivity. Negative conflict at senior management level magnifies these destructive forces on the business.

There are situations where a staff member is a rich resource to the business (e.g. has significant technical expertise) but whose style/behaviour is such that there is much ‘collateral damage’, especially in relationships and team cohesion. The dilemma is this: does the business lose the resource or lose other people? We have devised what has proven to be a highly impactful approach to such situations, essentially a behaviour modification programme. Through focused coaching and support, and an individually designed regular peer feedback system, the person develops new patterns of behaving and relating so that their skills are fully available to the business and negative perceptions of the person are quickly replaced.

In certain sectors and services there is a risk that staff may be exposed to critical incidents with the concomitant risk that they could develop post-traumatic stress disorder (P.T.S.D). If this is a concern of yours we can assist you to put in place a total C.I.S.M. programme and provide the necessary education and training for staff. We can also offer a post-incident Psychological Debriefing Service.

In some organisations counselling skills are a necessary part of the managers’ toolkit. If this applies in your business then we can provide the necessary training in counselling skills, ensuring that people know when it is appropriate to use them and when it is not. In addition, we can provide (or support your own) E.A.P. services.