Following a total breakdown in their professional relationship, CCI & Associates were asked to mediate between two heads of department. The breakdown in their relationship had been ongoing for 3-4 years and resulted in one individual going on long term sick with stress and the other registering a formal grievance. It was evident to the senior manager involved that unless the two individuals could be enabled to work together a drastic solution would be imposed upon them which would be beneficial to neither of them. Mediation was decided upon following advice from the Trade Union, who also felt the situation was beyond their ability to influence.

The CCI mediator took time to look into the culture of the departments involved, spent time with the individuals concerned individually, liaised with executive managers and senior HR advisors, and then finally sat down with the two individuals together to go through the mediation process. Whilst a fair period of time was spent prior to the formal mediation appointment, it was time well spent because we were able to identify a range of ways with the individuals in which they could both improve their communication with one another and have a better, less conflict oriented, understanding of one another. They have been working together successfully for the past 9 months in a way that was not believed achievable 12 months ago.

It would be wonderful to say that all of this success was purely down to the skills of the CCI mediator, but that would be unfair! – the two individuals involved were committed throughout the process to achieving a resolution so the mediator was in many ways a conduit for more positive communication.

It should be said, however, that without the mediator, the individuals concerned would not be working in the same environment, the same location or even possibly the same roles, as the organisation had begun to feel their only option was to make radical changes to both individuals’ roles.