Don't Let Conflict Blow-up in your Face- TCM Diary from CIPD Annual Conference

Monday 8th November, 5.30pm- Situated at the fore of the exhibition entrance, Stand E25 stood lifeless and empty. A lot of work needed to be done to get this 3*3 space to look like an area that oozed professionalism and able to represent an organisation that is forward-thinking within the Human Resources industry. Needless to say, it was constructed, deconstructed and constructed again.







Tuesday 9th November, 9.30am - First day of the annual conference. The TCM team were available bright and early to welcome the first stream of HR professionals. Our stand went from a lifeless empty shell (as above) to a sleek, professional mediation space. Strategy was discussed briefly for the last time as to how to get the "punters" in. We had the marketing materials ready, the TCM team assumed positions. Over the course of the day, the non-stop buzz was incredible. We welcomed different calibre of professionals from individual consultants to Heads of HR; Employee Relations Officers from both the private and public sector. The promotional grenade stress-balls (don't let conflict blow-up in your face- represents how destructive and corrosive conflict can be) once gave us ethical concerns became our catchphrase and the clients loved it.

Wednesday 10th November, 9.30am - Still reeling from Day one's success. The TCM team were back out there, determined to speak to as many people as possible. Mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution WORKS!. We gave away "Free Money" to represent the wasted time and resources continuously spent by organisations in trying to resolve workplace disputes. TCM explained the benefits of training managers, front-line staff and even setting-up an internal mediation scheme to reduce the financial cost as quoted by CIPD as £6500 per grievance per organisation. To train up to 12 professionals on a 2-day ILM approved Practical Mediation Skills course is almost half this amount. As the crowd gathered, realising we needed more manpower to cover the overwhelming demand, another expert mediator and trainer was immediately summoned from London to join us in Manchester on our last day to ensure we were able to deal with the last batch of prospects.

Thursday 11th November, 9.30am - The TCM team became 4 in total. We felt confident and able. David Liddle prepared for his interactive session "From Conflict to Consensus- the role of mediation at work". Already prospects came to wish him well and expressed their enthusiasm for his 30minutes mediation insight. The buzz continued, our mantra for the day "Leave no stone unturned".

11.45am-12.15pm- It was like the TCM Group took over the conference for 30 mins. The exhibitor exchange was overflowing with people that seemed ready to embrace something different, something that actually works. The space was full of seated and eager listeners, others hovered by trying not to miss a thing. The session went better than expected, David Liddle was in his element, 10 years industry experience and every word spoken rang true revelations.....Mediation Works!

1pm - 4pm - Prospects that took part in the session came by the stand to pass on their regards and get more information. With 4 TCM members, we were better equipped to deal with the demand. Not until we started running out of brochures. The brochures became like 'Gold-dust', 250 brochures gone before the exhibition ended. We took it as a sign of success. By 3.30pm, most of the people left were the exhibitors. Other exhibitors streamed to our stand one by one in a trade by barter process just to get their hands on the TCM grenade stress balls. "It is a genius idea to say the least", words from many exhibitors and prospects.

4pm - 5pm - We start to pack-up. Stand E25 had served its purpose. We remove the TCM branded items that brought this 3*3 space to life and when we leave, it returns to its empty, lifeless shell but with many memories of the mediation company that emphasised the importance of nipping conflicts early before it becomes very destructive and gave away grenade stress-balls and free money .

All in all, CIPD Manchester 2010 was a success story for the TCM Group.
 

Notes to Editors