UN Photo/Pierre Galinier
Build Your Skills
We assist employees in developing the skills and competencies to manage conflicts constructively in order to prevent further escalation.
Workshops and Presentations
We regularly offer workshops that develop participants’ skills to manage conflict effectively and foster a harmonious workplace at the United Nations. The goal is to help staff members become more aware of the negative behaviors that contribute to conflicts, learn to improve the quality of their communications and relationships, and resolve complex issues.
As part of the larger initiatives, we are leading a Dignity through Civility Campaign and the Awareness and Dialogue component of the Secretary-General’s campaign on Addressing Racism and Promoting Dignity for All in the United Nations. Civility Workshops and Cafés as well as Dialogues on Racism in the Workplace are delivered in UN offices around the world through our network of Regional Ombudsman, aiming to promote dignity for all.
We also continue to present the work of the Office to UN Secretariat staff around the world to ensure knowledge of, and access to, our services regardless of duty station location. Please contact your Regional Ombudsman or unoms@un.org to make arrangements for your team to learn about us, and about ways we can help minimize the negative and accentuate the positive aspects of conflict in the workplace.
Communication Tips
Misunderstandings often stem from miscommunication. If you would prefer to resolve the situation on your own and would like to hone your conflict resolution skills, we offer you some examples of how to handle frequently occurring situations:
Take 5
Is someone’s behaviour upsetting you? Instead of starting a fight, there are simple ways to have a constructive conversation. Here are five practical actions to help you with it.
Give Feedback – Positively!
Working in a team can often be challenging. If not shared constructively and respectfully, feedback can hurt. Thankfully, giving constructive feedback is a skill that can be learned; here's how.
The Power of Apologies
The healing effect of an apology can best be achieved when one has a chance to clearly define the harmful behaviour, apologize and indicate how future misunderstandings can be avoided.
Email Exchanges: Productive or Destructive?
Emails are an integral part of our daily life. There’s no escaping them. They can be very useful, or dreadful. Let's see how we can deal with them and avoid unnecessary tensions.
Dealing with Criticism - Constructively
While we may originally be feeling attacked or offended, and looking for revenge or a diversion, dealing properly with criticism may offer an opportunity for personal growth.
Difficult Conversation Ahead? Be At Ease!
Controlling difficult situations and dealing with them proactively and positively can be challenging. Here are some tips on how to approach a “difficult conversation”.
Performance evaluation discussion? The Ombudsman can help!
A performance evaluation discussion can be stressful, but if you are well prepared, you can learn a lot and build your relationship with your supervisor/supervisee. We can help!
If you ever feel the need to discuss your workplace-related issue, please don’t hesitate to contact us.