In every business it is natural that disagreements will arise. These disagreements can be between the company and its clients, among business partners, or employees. The way a company chooses to handle a dispute can impact customer satisfaction and its employee productivity (it can also affect the bottom line).

The Stitt Feld Handy Group offers various comprehensive courses in alternative dispute resolution. Alternative dispute resolution, also known as “ADR”, includes forms of conflict management that are completed outside of litigation. Types of alternative dispute resolution include negotiation, mediation and arbitration (can also include a company’s own conflict management strategy).

By receiving alternative dispute resolution training, you will be able to improve your communication skills. Improved communication allows for the effective management of disagreements that may arise. After having received alternative dispute resolution training you will be able to:

1. Recognize when conflict occurs. When you are trained in alternative dispute resolution, you will readily be able to identify the conflict at its inception. As poor communication is often at the root of a disagreement, your training will allow you to recognize the impact that the communication problems have on the situation. One of the things that separate a good business from a struggling business is not whether or not they have disputes, but how they handle them when they do have them.

2. Learn to not take the dispute personally. One of the hallmarks of a good dispute resolver is the ability to separate the personal strain that has arisen as a result of the disagreement from addressing the problem itself. Learning how to do this will allow you to remain even-tempered and to communicate positively and professionally in difficult situations.

3. Apply the tools to tackle disagreements. Once you have the communication tools to resolve disputes, you will be able to use them in various situations. You will be able to apply your new communication skills in a variety of situations that include tough negotiations with suppliers, termination situations, and making difficult business decisions that are important to your company’s survival.

4. Develop plans for handling conflict. Once you know how to approach an uncomfortable situation within your company, you will be able to implement a plan on how to work with your colleagues towards resolving disagreements as soon as they arise. Improving your communication and conflict management skills will allow you to address the problems of conflict at an early stage in a coordinated and professional way. If the problems of conflict are not addressed in an efficient manner, then the greater the likelihood that the problem will fester and may require resolution through litigation.

5. Understand the high cost of unresolved disputes. The impact of poor communication can be more extensive than a prolonged dispute. An unresolved disagreement can be very costly to your business and your personal relationships. It is very likely that disruptions to your employees’ productivity, bad publicity, and potentially high legal fees could ensue. If you are conscious of these possible consequences, you will be motivated to improve your conflict resolution strategy and to learn the necessary skills to implement it.

If you are looking to improve your conflict management and communication skills, the Stitt Feld Handy Group offers comprehensive alternative dispute resolution courses to business people, entrepreneurs, human resources managers, and other professionals.

To learn conflict resolution skills that you can use at work and in your personal life, please visit our Alternative Dispute Resolution Workshop page to learn more about upcoming in-person and instructor-led online sessions.

To improve your negotiation skills and get the results you want while negotiating, please visit our Become a Powerful Negotiator Workshop page to learn more about upcoming in-person and instructor-led online sessions.

To gain skills to handle difficult conversations and difficult people with confidence, please visit our Dealing With Difficult People Workshop page to learn more about upcoming in-person and instructor-led online sessions.