Conciliators must don varied roles in conflict resolution
SOMETIMES business organisations and their functioning can be pretty tricky. When two or more parties or groups come in contact on a business plane, there does exist some amount of self-seeking concerns and motives, behind each move made. This could cause disagreements, debates and ultimately friction. This is where a conciliator comes into the picture.
A conciliator acts as a mediator between two parties that are at logger-heads and helps them reach an amicable settlement. He helps convey the grievances of both and helps sort out the dispute on a common ground. The parties can openly discuss their apprehensions and justifications with the conciliator, who helps them, view various plausible alternatives and options. Moreover, work processes are speeded up, because of timely intervention and ability to resolve misunderstandings. The conciliator can play varied roles and adopt different modes of dispute settlement. Depending upon his position and designation in the organisation he can act as a:
Communicator: A conciliator mainly plays the role of a communicator. He acts as a medium of transfer of ideas from one party to another, involved in the disagreement. Organisations utilise the services of a conciliator to tackle problems, without having to do so, face to face with the other party. Acting as the point of contact between the parties, the conciliator comprehends the agenda of both the parties and then, interprets the same to them. Thus, a conciliator is a link between the two parties at dispute.
Leader: A conciliator also assumes the role of a leader, wherein he diminishes the degree of hostility or ambiguous outlook between the parties at dispute. He leads them towards an appraisal of their problem, amongst themselves, while he supervises the whole issue. This way, there is a verbal discussion, which brings many lurking notions into the open. He also helps the groups see reason in each other's strife.
PREETI RAGHUNATH
faqs@cnkonline.com
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Opportunities
