Pistols at dawn
An HR shoot out sounds like something from the Wild West. Perhaps a more British version would be a dual. The way gentlemen settle disputes. Each party brings a second along, they stand back to back ,walk ten paces turn and fire. They only get one shot so less violent. The modern version would be the ,informal meeting. It doesn’t sound as dramatic but it is away to settle disputes of honour usually between the individual and their line manager. Each can bring a friend and a representative from HR is there to ensure fair play. The incentive for both parties is the chance to get the dispute resolved quickly and move on. HR encourage this approach because they recognise once people get into the formal process position become entrenched and at the end of a protected process one individual is going to be left feeling resentful and let down. From bitter experience HR know that managers are usually at least partially to blame for the situation, an informal gives them an opportunity to help a manager understand this and then dig them out of the hole they have dug for themselves. Once the dispute goes into a formal process HR’s scope is reduced.
Often at the heart of the dispute is a manager’s refusal to acknowledge their actions could be interpreted any other way than they intended. Sitting listening to what their team member heard and believed can bring about the realisation that the individual was not being wilful, awkward or deliberately obstructive but reacting defensively to perceived unjustified criticism.
Some times the manager simply acknowledging their team members feelings in front of HR is enough. HR can then make suggestions about the way forward to reduce the risk of any future “misunderstandings”.
Of course informal meetings don’t always work and the employee goes forward with an official grievance or a manager pursues disciplinary action. But the fact they often do work is why HR always advocate trying this way before going down the formal route.
Comparing conflict resolution to an old style dual does bring to mind those scenes in a costume drama of the period where having completed their ten paces and turned to fire, one shoots hastily and misses the other is now free to take deadly aim at the helpless individual. Instead he fires his pistole in the air. Honour has been satisfied.
Blair Mcpherson former director author and blogger www.blairmcpherson.co.uk
