Including
Mediation A new study on Forbes suggests that CEOs are doing a ‘lousy job when
it comes to people management’ and the ‘lowest rated skill was conflict management.’
Listening skills, empathy and compassion also scored badly
(23%). Of course CEOs need to focus on the bottom line and their
decision-making ability is rated much higher in this study. This managerial skills
defecit has also been noticed in recent CIPD Fact Sheet on Employee Relations
at work
‘Managing
the employment relationship rests heavily on the shoulders of line managers,
but their competence in this area is, in general, seriously neglected…..A much
wider area of knowledge is now required, along with the skills to apply it,
including communications and conflict management.’
It is difficult to
achieve a balance between people skills and technical, business and
professional skills when designing leadership and management training. I
believe that the Resolution Architecture at work and general levels of trust,
engagement and capability would be improved and resolution-readiness increased
if Conflict Management and Mediation skills were more prominently featured in
Leadership and Management competencies and standards (see our ABC Guide to Workplace Conflict Resolution). As these skills contain listening,
building trust, facilitation and working across diverse teams this change would
also have a positive impact on engagement, trust and capability.
I recently sat on a
working party leading a Skills CFA review and update of Leadership and
Management National Occupational Standards. Conflict resolution and mediation
skills barely appeared at all amongst a mass of competencies seen as leadership
and management essentials. Without some mention in the standards I felt it was
unlikely that these skills would ever be identified as central to success and
worth investing in. The Resolution Architecture at work would remain non-conducive to early resolution by managers.
The review panel
agreed that this was an omission so I designed a new standard which is ‘about
managing conflicts across the broader work environment, between different
stakeholders, working at different levels and in different departments or
organisations. It covers taking preventative action to avoid the negative
impacts of conflicts and resolving conflicts when they emerge.’ NOS are
intended as guides to best practice so why not take a look and consider adding
some of the skills, understanding and knowledge to your leadership
competencies?
Available at http://www.sqa.org.uk/files_ccc/CFAM_LDD5.pdf
or http://www.skillscfa.org/images/pdfs/National%20Occupational%20Standards/Management%20and%20Leadership/2012/Management%20and%20Leadership.pdf.
Many of these skills
are covered in our conflict resolution and mediation training courses which you can find on our website but do get in touch to info@peopleresolutions.com and be sure to download our 'ABC Guide to Workplace Conflict Resolutions' guide and watch our video series.
John Crawley
