Conflict Resolution at Work for Dummies®

Chapter 14. Getting Outside Experts to Facilitate Resolutions

In This Chapter

• Deciding when a professional is needed

• Reviewing available services

• Hiring the right person for the job

Two or more of your employees are in a conflict and you know an intervention is needed. You may be thinking about stepping in and trying to use the processes outlined in Chapters 6 through 10, or maybe you're looking into the company's internal resources like those in Chapter 13. Or perhaps the option of bringing in a professional conflict resolution specialist is more in line with your needs, especially if you've tried other options and they're just not working.

Tip

As you think about the conflict and the needs of your employees, gather as much information as possible to make the best decision for you, your team, and the company.

This chapter provides you with information you need when hiring a conflict resolution consultant. I give you tips on how other managers decide when a professional is needed, lay out criteria to help you zero in on which service best meets your goal, and tell you how to find the right person for the job.

Why Managers Do or Don't Call in Help

Making the decision to call in help can be a slippery slope. Unfortunately, there are no hard-and-fast rules to tell you definitively that, yes, a professional is needed, or no, you can handle this situation yourself. This section helps you research your options, weigh the pros and cons, and consider the best next steps.

Note

I recommend that managers ...