Resources for University Ombuds Visitors

Articles

• • Let’s Resolve This… – Sunshine Yen
    • This article explores practical approaches to conflict resolution, offering tips and techniques to resolve disputes effectively and maintain healthy relationships.
  • How to Tell Your Story if You are a Target of Bullying – MWI
    • This article provides guidance on how to articulate your experience if you are a target of bullying, offering strategies for effective communication and self-advocacy.
  • When You Want to Be Hybrid, But Your Boss Wants You in the Office – Rachel Montañez
    • This article discusses strategies for negotiating flexible work arrangements, offering advice on how to present your case effectively when your preferences conflict with your employer’s expectations.
  • Don’t Ask for a Raise, Negotiate It – Carol Hagh
    • This article encourages a proactive approach to salary discussions, emphasizing negotiation techniques to secure better compensation and benefits by focusing on value and mutual benefit.

Tools

• • Drafting and Perhaps Sending a Private Letter to a Person Who has Harassed or Offended You – Mary Rowe
    • This tool provides a framework for drafting a personal letter to someone who has harassed or offended you, focusing on clear communication and the potential benefits of addressing the issue privately.

Videos

• • William Ury Media Library, including;
  • Getting to Yes

• • Why: Interests behind Positions

• • The Power of a Positive No

Books

• • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High – Kerry Patterson et al.
    • This book offers strategies for navigating high-stakes conversations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining safety and mutual respect to achieve positive outcomes.
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition – Kerry Patterson et al.
    • The second edition updates the original with new research and insights, providing refined tools for handling difficult conversations and improving communication effectiveness in critical situations.
  • Never Split the Difference: Negotiating as if Your Life Depended on It – Chris Voss, Michael Kramer, et al
    • This book presents negotiation techniques rooted in FBI hostage negotiation strategies, emphasizing psychological tactics to achieve better outcomes in both personal and professional negotiations.
  • Getting to Yes: Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In – Roger Fisher, William Ury, & Bruce Patton 
    • A classic text on principled negotiation, this book introduces the concept of finding mutual gains and separating people from the problem to reach fair agreements without compromising relationships.
  •  Working with Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action –  Simon Fisher, et al.
    • This book offers practical tools and strategies for addressing conflict in various contexts, focusing on both the skills needed and the actions required to manage and resolve disputes effectively.

Articles

• • The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety in the Workplace for Learning, Innovation, and Growth
    • This book explores how to create a workplace culture where employees feel safe to speak up, take risks, and engage in open dialogue, which is crucial for innovation and growth.

Video

• • Active Listening – Optimal Lifestyle

• • Creating a Speak-Up Culture – Leadership NOW with Dan Pontefract – Stephen Shedletzky

Books

• • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Third Edition – Joseph Grenny, Kerry Patterson, et al
    • The third edition builds on the earlier versions with updated content and additional tools for managing conversations where the stakes are high, focusing on achieving resolution while maintaining relationships.
  •  Working with Conflict: Skills and Strategies for Action –  Simon Fisher, et al.
    • This book offers practical tools and strategies for addressing conflict in various contexts, focusing on both the skills needed and the actions required to manage and resolve disputes effectively.
  • Humble Inquiry, Second Edition: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling – The Humble Leadership Series
    • This book advocates for a leadership style centered on asking thoughtful questions and listening, encouraging genuine dialogue, and building trust through curiosity and humility.

• Conflict Management Styles & Interactions – Govloop
  • This article outlines different conflict management styles, such as avoiding, accommodating, and collaborating, and explains how each style impacts interactions in the workplace.
• Conflict Resolution Cheat Sheet – ProCognita
  • A concise guide offering quick tips and strategies for resolving conflicts effectively, focusing on practical steps to address disputes in a constructive manner.
• Conflict Resolution Tip Sheet – HSAG
  • This tip sheet provides actionable advice for managing conflicts, emphasizing clear communication, understanding different perspectives, and finding common ground.
• Tools for a Conflict Management – SALTO
  • This resource offers tools and techniques for managing conflicts, especially in youth work and intercultural settings, promoting dialogue and mutual understanding.
• Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument – Kilmann Diagnostics
  • A widely used assessment tool that helps individuals identify their preferred conflict-handling style, enabling them to understand and adapt their approach to conflict.
• Mental Safety in the Workplace Toolkit – WorkSafe – lots of great resources
  • A toolkit providing resources to promote mental safety in the workplace, offering strategies for creating a supportive environment where employees can thrive.
• Examples of Conflict in the Workplace – Scenarios & Solutions – Power to Fly
  • This article presents real-life workplace conflict scenarios and offers solutions, providing insights into effective conflict resolution strategies.
• 6 Workplace Conflict Examples with Useful Resolutions – Indeed Editorial Team
  • The article highlights six common workplace conflicts and suggests practical resolutions, focusing on maintaining professionalism and collaboration.
• 7 Workplace Conflict Examples (Plus How to Handle Each One) – Sara McCord
  • A detailed exploration of seven workplace conflict scenarios with guidance on how to address each one, emphasizing the importance of communication and empathy.
• 10 Common Examples of Workplace Conflicts (And Solutions) – Bradford Glaser
  • This resource discusses ten frequent workplace conflicts and provides actionable solutions, helping managers and employees navigate disputes effectively.
• 8 Workplace Conflict Examples & Their Resolutions – Valerie Dansereau
  • An article that explores eight types of workplace conflicts and suggests resolutions, focusing on preserving workplace harmony and productivity.
• Resolve Workplace Conflicts Like a Pro: Effective Conflict Management Strategies – Monther Wahbeh
  • This guide offers strategies for effectively managing workplace conflicts, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and proactive communication.
• Managing Conflicts in the Workplace. – Relationships Australia
  • This resource provides insights and tools for managing workplace conflicts, focusing on maintaining healthy relationships and creating a positive work environment.
• Respectful Authenticity – Robert Glazer – Acceleration Partners
  • An article discussing the balance between being authentic and respectful in the workplace, offering advice on how to communicate openly while maintaining professionalism.
• Collaboration and Team Science: A Field Guide – National Cancer Institute
  • This field guide provides tools and strategies for fostering collaboration in scientific research, emphasizing the importance of teamwork and conflict resolution in advancing scientific goals.

Articles

• • How Bullying Manifests at Work and How to Stop It – Ludmila Praslova et al.
    • This article examines various forms of workplace bullying and provides actionable strategies for preventing and addressing such behavior to create a safer work environment.
  • How to Tell Your Story if You are a Target of Bullying – MWI
    • This article guides individuals on how to effectively share their experiences of bullying, offering tips on framing the narrative and advocating for oneself in a constructive way.
  • Checklist For Responding to Rudeness – MWI
    • A practical checklist that offers steps for responding to rude behavior in the workplace, focusing on maintaining professionalism while addressing the issue.

Tools

• • Implicit Bias Test – Harvard’s Project Implicit
    • An online tool designed to help individuals uncover their unconscious biases, providing insights that can lead to more equitable behavior in the workplace.
  • Are You Perceived as a Workplace Bully? – Civility Partners
    • This self-assessment tool helps individuals evaluate their behavior to determine if they may be perceived as a bully at work, offering insights for improvement.
  • Does Your Management Style Facilitate Workplace Bullying Within Your Team? – Civility Partners
    • A tool for managers to assess whether their leadership style may be contributing to a culture of bullying, with recommendations for fostering a healthier team dynamic.

Videos

• • Dealing with a Bully at Work

• • Mental Safety in the Workplace – WorkSafe

• • Senior Level Bullying – Got a workplace bully? Do this next.

Books

• • The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t – Robert Sutton
    • This book explores how toxic behavior in the workplace, particularly from “assholes,” can damage organizations and offers strategies to create a more civil and productive work environment.
  • Just Work: How to Root Out Bias, Prejudice, and Bullying to Build a Kick-Ass Culture of Inclusivity – Kim Scott
    • Kim Scott’s book focuses on addressing workplace injustices, including bias, prejudice, and bullying, providing practical tools for creating an inclusive and fair culture.
  • The Bully-Free Workplace: Stop Jerks, Weasels, and Snakes from Killing Your Organization – Gary & Ruth Namie
    • This book offers strategies for organizations to eliminate workplace bullying, emphasizing the need for strong leadership and clear policies to protect employees and maintain a healthy work environment.
  • Taming the Abrasive Manager– Dr. Laura Crawshaw
    • This book is an ideal resource for managers, human resource professionals, coaches, and anyone who works for or with an abrasive boss.
  • Grow Your Spine & Manage Abrasive Leadership Behavior: A Guide for Those Who Manage Bosses Who Bully– Dr. Laura Crawshaw
    • This book shows shows managers how to fearlessly manage bosses who behave badly, ensuring a psychologically safe workplace.

Articles

• • 5 Strategies for Conflict Resolution in the Workplace – Harvard Business School
    • This article offers key approaches, including open communication and collaboration, to effectively manage and resolve workplace conflicts.

Tools

• • Difficult Conversations Checklist – MWI
    • This tool provides key steps for effectively navigating challenging discussions, emphasizing preparation, active listening, and empathy to facilitate constructive dialogue.
  • Starting the Difficult Conversation – MWI
    • This tool offers guidance for initiating tough discussions, focusing on preparation, respectful tone, and clear intentions to promote constructive dialogue.

Videos

• • The Beauty of Conflict – TEDx Talks

• • 3 ways to resolve a conflict – TED Institute

• • How to deal with difficult people – TEDx Talks

• • Miscommunication – TED-Ed

Books

• • We have to talk: A step-by-step Checklist for Difficult Conversations – Judy Ringer
    • This book offers a practical checklist for navigating difficult conversations, emphasizing clear steps to foster open communication, empathy, and trust
  • 101 Tough Conversations to Have with Employees: A Manager’s Guide to Addressing Performance, Conduct, and Discipline Challenges – Paul Falcone
    • This book provides managers with strategies and scripts for addressing performance, conduct, and discipline challenges effectively.
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High – Joseph Grenny et al.
    • This book provides techniques for handling high-stakes discussions, emphasizing open dialogue and effective communication for positive outcomes.
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition – Joseph Grenny et al.
    • This book offers updated techniques and new examples for managing high-stakes discussions. This edition enhances the original concepts with additional resources and improved clarity, reflecting contemporary challenges and research to help readers achieve successful outcomes.

Articles

• A Fresh Take on Feedback: The Shift Positive Method, Scott Deyo, Ombuds
• Delivering Effective Feedback – MWI
  • This article offers strategies for providing constructive feedback, focusing on clarity and support to promote growth and positive relationships.
• Twelve Tips to Promote a Feedback Culture with a Growth Mind-Set: Swinging the feedback pendulum from recipes to relationships. Medical Teacher, 2019 June 41(6), 625-631. S. Ramani, et al.
  • This article offers strategies for fostering a feedback-rich environment in education, emphasizing relationship-building and open dialogue to enhance learning and collaboration.

Videos

• • Introduction to Feedback – Stone and Heen

• • The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well – Stone and Heen

The International Ombuds Association (IOA) is a professional organization that promotes the principles and practices of organizational ombuds and trains ombuds worldwide. These documents provide a framework for the Ombuds’ commitment to confidentiality, impartiality, independence, and informality.

• IOA Code of Ethics – IOA
• IOA Standards of Practice – IOA

Videos

• • Who are ombuds – IOA

• • Ombuds: An Emerging Resource for Organizational Conflict – TEDxUCLA – Tom Kosakowski