Peace at Work: The HR Manager's Guide to Workplace Mediation

IS THIS BOOK FOR YOU?
If you…
• are in HR and are tasked with general or specific responsibility for themanagement of workplace conflict
• need support and guidance about how best to approach the management of internal workplace conflict• are ready to add to your toolbox a practical skill that fosters a more peaceful workplace
• want to make a positive difference in the world
…then it probably is!

My goal is to support you to successfully master the skill of workplace mediation. I want to make it easy for you to mediate internal workplace conflict. I want to share with you what I have learnt from working as a professional mediator with an employment and workplace focus. I am going to reveal all I know about resolving conflict as easily as possible, so that you can do it too.

I am also going to weave in what I have learnt academically while teaching graduate students the skills of conflict resolution, negotiation and mediation. For some time now, as part of my corporate training practice, I have taught HR managers the skill of mediation through the offices of the Northern California Human Resources Association. Although a book can never replace the learning that occurs in a classic training environment, my hope is to convey to you, through these pages, what I cover when training your colleagues.

I do not have to tell you how debilitating poorly managed workplace conflict can be. I want to give you the tools to do something productive about it.

Conflict does not have to be a headache. In fact, it should be seen as a sign of vitality; a sign that something needs to change within an organization. Having mediation as a tool can go a long way to support authentic organizational harmony and well-being. And if you are the one doing the mediation, you get the accolades for being a peacemaker!

“Peace at Work is a must-read for all HR professionals who aspire to a better solution to workplace conflict and who want to add the skill of mediation to their toolbox. John Ford takes a lifetime of mediation knowledge and presents it in an easy-to-understand, step-by-step process, from opening statements to closing agreements and every step in between.”
Todd Clawson, MS, Director of Human Resources, Parker County Hospital District

“I have worked with John on various mediations over the years. He cares deeply about the people involved in his mediations and this is reflected in his consummate application of the skills and strategies in Peace at Work. This book is a natural complement to, and an excellent compilation of, John’s considerable store of knowledge about mediation in the workplace.”
Beth Delaney, Human Resource Business Partner, Kaiser Permanente

“I had the pleasure of taking a mediation course led by John Ford. He was a truly inspiring teacher and his course proved immediately useful in my work in labor and employee relations. Many of the wise insights John shared with us in class are included in Peace at Work. HR and other managers looking for clear and practical advice about how to conduct a mediation will find it here, and will be better able to see why mediation is potentially so effective in resolving conflict.”
Maryl Olivera, Labor and Employee Relations, Administrative Office of the Courts

“John Ford’s book, Peace at Work, will help any manager or HR professional to successfully mediate conflict. Mr Ford draws from his vast personal experience and insight, as well as that of many experts in the field, in this well-written and well-organized book. He covers foundational concepts and provides a structured approach to what is an easy-to-use, step-by-step model for mediation. Complete with case-study role-plays and a rich appendix of supporting materials and reference listings, the book is a must for anyone who leads people.”Peter Haralabopoulos, Flight Attendant Base Director, San Francisco International Airport

John Ford, BA LLB (UCT) is an experienced workplace mediator and soft-skills trainer.

John studied law at the University of Cape Town before moving to Namibia, where he practiced from 1988 to 1995. Initially, he focused on representing survivors of human-rights abuses. After Namibian independence in 1990, his focus shifted to labor and employment law.

John moved to California in 1996 and trained as a mediator. He has since successfully mediated hundreds of workplace disputes, and has worked with numerous teams to help them deal successfully with conflict.

John has provided training to thousands of employees at all levels in the workplace, across a wide range of industries. His workshops focus on the development of soft skills, such as communication, negotiation, facilitation, conflict resolution, emotional intelligence, customer service and mediation.

John teaches negotiation at UC Berkeley School of Law, mediation to graduate Business and Psychology students at Golden Gate University, and organizational collaboration online through Creighton University.

He is a past president of the Association for Dispute Resolution of Northern California (ADRNC), and was the managing editor of www.mediate.com from 2000 to 2011. Currently, he is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution and the ADRNC.

John is the current trainer of a two-day Mastering Workplace Mediation seminar for members of the Northern California Human Resources Association (NCHRA). He also teaches a longer version of this class through UC Berkeley Extension.

It is this training and his passion to make the world a more peaceful place that inspired him to write Peace at Work: The HR Manager’s Guide to Workplace Mediation, and to found the HR Mediation Academy.