TalkTrue Conflict Prevention & Culture Change

Mastering everyday conflict through positive psychology
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Clashes and conflict at work; there is a better way

Bullying in the workplace costs. Costs can include lost productivity, absenteeism, turnover, investigation costs to name but a few. Perhaps the biggest cost can be the angst and emotional trauma people experience when there is conflict around them at work. Bullying in the NHS costs £3bn a year and costs can get really out of hand if things end up in a Settlement Agreement or litigation and a tribunal award. 

The higher up the organisation any fall out or conflict happens, the greater the impact is felt across the whole company. Often, the only option available is to ‘reach for an HR process’ because what else can you do? However, when it gets to that point where you are ‘going formal’, the prospects of ever repairing relationships afterwards can disappear. Procedures can force people into ‘victim/perpetrator’ modes, (Karpman 1968), which can actually make matters worse; people say things they then can’t then un-say.

inclusive work place

Restorative Approaches in the workplace.

A restorative approach is an alternative way of thinking about managing people and situations involving conflict, difficult behaviour and damaged relationships at work. It helps people to explore their own solutions, not have one imposed upon them by another. It provides a way of handling people issues at work in a less procedural, more person-centred way. It has been referred to as “a better way to disagree, prevent conflict and repair harm” (Hopkins, 2016)

Transforming Organisations & Relationships

Photo of Carmel Millar

Carmel Millar, Founder and Creator of TalkTrue

Carmel Millar MSc, MA, MCIPD.

HR & OD Specialist Consultant,  Behavioural & Positive Psychology Coach

My passion in life is helping prevent conflict at work, before it happens. I help people make small but hugely impactful personal changes which can make a huge difference to them. In turn, these changes positively impact those around us to improve relationships and heal damaged ones.

My Experience

I have substantial Board level experience, of which 27 years have been at HR Director level at organisations including the British Library, Surrey County Council, Westminster Council, and CAFCASS.  I now operate as an independent consultant and contractor, specialising in:

  • Coaching,
  • Organisational development,
  • Leadership and leadership team development,
  • Restorative conflict resolution
  • Talent management,
  • Culture change,
  • Employee engagement and
  • Transforming and modernizing organisations and HR.

I am a qualified employment law specialist with a master’s degree in Employment Law. I also have a Master of Science degree in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London. I hold a Post-Grad Diploma and Post-Grad Certificate in Politics and Public Administration from Liverpool John Moore’s University as well as a Post-Grad Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring from Oxford Brookes University. I am a qualified and trained NLP Practitioner (Middlesex University) and a specialist Restorative Practice facilitator, helping people and teams to find better ways out of conflict. I train and coach people in Restorative Practice skills and in how to have honest workplace conversations.

Ethics, standards and confidentiality

I am a Chartered member of the Institute of Personnel Development and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.  As an HR professional I abide by the CIPD Code of Professional Conduct and I observe the General Data Protection Regulations as part of the data protection regime in the UK (Data Protection Act 2018), acknowledging guidance produced by the EU’s Article 29 Working Party – now the European Data Protection Board (EDPB).

As a member the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) I operate under their Code of Ethics in all my activity.  In relation to my coach competency level as set out in the Code, I self-assess as a senior coach.  As part of my own commitment to CPD and continuous learning, I ensure I receive regular coaching supervision.