Concerning issues of harassment, discrimination or otherwise unfair labor practices, documentation can make or break a case should it turn into a legal matter. Documenting the process of conflict resolution when it has worked well can produce a format that can be used again. Everyone involved in the process of change should be prepared for the possibility that things won't go their way. Moving on may be difficult, but it is completely necessary. The world of work is moving and changing at an incredible rate and none of us can afford to get stuck in the yesterday's problems.
Conflict is a very natural part of our lives.
If we expect positive outcomes of change, we'll create and find them ourselves. Choices about how we learn and grow from changes on the job or in any aspect of life are ours to make. Christine Kemp-Longmore has been an employment specialist for 15 years. After managing a community-based employment program called Project Hire, she founded Human Solutions, an organization specializing in consulting, diversity awareness and sensitivity training, and workshops for human service professionals in the state of Vermont. She also provided employment development and support services for people with disabilities and their employers.