Articles, news and blogs from The TCM Group

It's been a month since I carefully handed over my much-loved post as an Executive Director of HR/OD for a top performing NHS Foundation Trust. Over my 17 years there I was part of an amazing journey to become one of the very best employers in the NHS and I...

Our mental health expert Marie Coombes talked all things workplace wellbeing in our first ever Culture Clinic. During the session, Marie shared advice, wisdom, and tips to those seeking help for various workplace scenarios. To spread the message as far and wide as we can, we’ve written a recap below:...

In our organisations, it’s easy for us to lose sight of people in favour of process. Slipping into those old habits of retribution over restoration has lasting negative impacts on business, collective and individual health. Head of Resolution and Leadership Programmes Stephen Adams discussed how, through a unique triage system,...

The meaning of culture “The culture of any organisation is shaped by the worst behaviour the leader is willing to display.” David Liddle, author and principal of Transformational Culture There are so many definitions of culture – in fact, there’s over four million. But when David Liddle asked the audience...

How do we resolve conflict when it appears in our organisations? To David Liddle, mediation is the most powerful and effective process to bring people together and secure a successful and lasting resolution. “We can make a real difference through mediation in an informal, safe and relaxed environment, where people...

Conflict costs US firms $359bn per annum. (But there is a better way) US organizations are seeking purpose led, values based and person centred approaches to conflict management and cultural change.   Leading transformational culture consultancy The TCM group expands into the US with the appointment of experienced mediator Merry...

When we use mediation as a versatile tool to resolve employee conflicts, one of the main aims is to uncover the underlying needs that are driving the parties’ behaviours and beliefs. Far too often, when involved in a dispute; we focus heavily on what we want, and these wants very...

Are mediators missing a trick? We have all experienced occasions where one party (let’s call this party Ali) is keen to mediate but the other party (who does not need a name for the purposes of this blog) refuses to engage in a mediation process for whatever reason. A common...

Who are we? 2021 saw a 70% increase in demand for our investigation services, prompting the launch of its own brand, The Investigation Company. Supported by a team of world-class consultants with decades of experience collectively, TIC provides investigation and audit services, training and case management to ensure a fair,...

Introducing the case “A lot of times I've noticed in my experience in mediation that the dispute is actually a symptom of a bigger issue that is lying somewhere. Mediation is uncovering something that is a symptomatic response, and it works to solve that deeper, more complex feeling inside.” Anup...

“Our aim is for the resolution ethos to encourage us all to talk more openly, with trust, empathy and understanding. It’s everyone’s responsibility to help support and build an environment where it’s safe to speak up and for everyone to thrive. We all need to listen, value each other’s views...

“We don't have to go to retributive and adversarial systems in order to deliver justice. Justice can be delivered in another route based on collaboration, compassion, listening and positive dialogue. In fact, what will shine is when we deploy those universally important human principles of fairness and collaboration, much better...

As you're reading this, how are you feeling? Are you relaxed and optimistic about your day, workload, and personal life, or are you overwhelmed and feel things are moving beyond your control? If you answered yes to the second part of that question, you might be feeling the symptoms of...

Events don’t quite happen like they used to. But that wasn’t going to stop us from celebrating the launch of our CEO and Founder David Liddle’s bestselling book, Transformational Culture. Our webinar was framed a little differently than usual – forget the slides and solo speeches. This was an invitation...

The traditional response to an allegation of bullying or harassment would be to launch into a formal investigative procedure. The process would begin, gathering evidence from all available sources, with the objective of finding out whether or not there was a case to answer. But how often do colleagues and...

“Companies need to be having critical conversations about the way things are and the way things could be. Don’t be afraid to dream big and act even bigger.” Strategic Lead Consultant Blair Maxwell states that the importance of culture cannot be overstated. Companies are a reflection of behaviour at mass...

“How can we create a shared and common purpose in these trying times? We’ve become fearful of emotions and feelings within business.” One thing’s for certain: David Liddle has big dreams and even bigger plans. Since the inception of Transformational Culture, we’ve seen the book become a bestseller and many...

All significant things that happen in an organisation are underpinned by, and reliant on, communication or dialogue.  Recruiting and training, performance management, purchasing, finance, logistics, dealing with customers, deciding strategy, holding each other to account, providing direction or support, and problem-solving are all examples.  And yet organisations systematically inhibit communication...

Who cares about culture? Transformation is all about digital, right? In the post-covid environment, it's easy to assume that the way to successful organisational transformation is through mastery of digital technology.   Organisational leaders passionately embrace digital transformation, understanding its power and imperative as a critical component of business, not just...

Twelve days of TCM The year of uncertainty has made us sure of one thing: what we want our organisations to look like in the coming years. External chaos has forced us all to look inward and assess whether our workplaces are truly working. And not just for those at...

“When excellent staff experience is achieved, staff become inspired to be the best people that they can be at work, which in turn delivers the best patient care. To achieve excellent staff experience employers must create an environment where staff can succeed, feel valued, supported and encouraged.” - Staff Experience,...

The past two years have become a landmark of great conflict, challenge and change. Brexit, COVID-19, COP26 and the drive of technology combined to have a near universal impact on the way we think, live and work. Trials and tribulations have been brought to the fore of our workplaces, with...

The third and final webinar in our Transformational Culture series was led by Blair Maxwell, Project Management Consultant for the Transformational Trailblazers initiative, and CEO David Liddle. After understanding the concept and how to develop a business case for culture change, it was necessary to learn how to adopt a...

2021 has been memorable. Amidst moments of great change, sometimes conflict, and often challenge, there’s also been celebration. The past year, if not two, has brought many trials and tribulations to the fore of our workplaces. Mental health is the prevailing theme for many, more are resigning than ever before,...

Our Director of Investigation & Audit Services, Gary Rogers, held his final webinar to an audience of over 150 people. We crowded over a single room on Zoom to learn all about how to conduct a fair and thorough investigation. One participant wrote, “Thank you to The TCM Group for a...

Fear continues long after Halloween ends. The scare factor can be physical – with up to 60% of absences from work being stress-related – or psychological – 1 in 6 workers will experience depression or anxiety during their career. This has real impacts on individual, team and collective wellbeing and...

How to act on climate change from your desk It’s 2021 and activism is the agenda. As Gen Z and Millennials storm in as the most populous generations, we’re calling for our surroundings to reflect our modern and progressive ideals. From #MeToo, Black Lives Matter and Fridays for the Future,...

An introduction to the principles, processes and practical applications of mediation Why mediation? The concept is alien to many, provoking apprehension, confusion and a lot of misunderstanding. It’s not meditation, it’s not medication… it’s a compassionate approach to conflict resolution. Resolution Consultants Marie Coombes and Harriette Wolff opened our eyes,...

“I have recently retired after 30+ years of watching the damage done by a policy driven, command and control approach. This framework gives me hope that real culture change is possible.” Webinar attendee Traditional grievance procedures have been dividing and destroying our organisations for too long. The organisational cost mounts,...

Talking is one of our natural, therapeutic tendencies as human beings. It’s recommended by experts after crises, big or small. A trouble shared is a trouble halved. But too often, when faced with a problem, we take the retributive route. Throughout civilisation, punishment has existed to cause injury to those...

Sunday 10th October marked World Mental Health Day, and admirably so we have seen many news headlines, social media trends and eye-opening stories offering the opportunity to raise awareness, dispel the myths, and offer practical tips. All in support of the 1 in 4 of us who will suffer with...

It’s National Inclusion Week and a lot of usually quiet figures are stepping up to bang the drum for diversity. But what about next week? Will it still be on trend? The hashtag may lose traction after Friday, but the need for increasing inclusivity will never fade into the background....

The definitive guide to a fair, just, inclusive, and high performing organisation Over 300 listeners lined up, piqued with curiosity, and appeared on screen in rows of tiny boxes ahead of David’s workshop, a Transformational Culture Taster Session. A mini revolution was enacted, in digital form, as we sought to...

How vulnerable should we be in the workplace? Ade Adeniji, one of our long-standing resolution consultants; and equality, diversity and inclusion specialist; was recently asked to speak on the Sattva Soul weekly podcast. In this episode, Celine, the founder of this transformational wellness company, spoke with Ade on the topic...

Are we really all in this together? From community to conflict If the last 18 months have taught us anything, it’s that hybrid working is here to stay. A study by Robert Half found that one-half of professionals surveyed much prefer a hybrid work model, whilst one-third of respondents would...

In his ground-breaking new book Transformational Culture (released 3 September, Kogan Page), David Liddle, CEO and Founder of the TCM Group, calls for organisations to adopt a radical new approach to company culture, built on the foundations of fairness, justice, inclusivity, sustainability and high performance. At a time when organisations...

Transformational Culture is bold. It’s a fearless confrontation with the problems that fester in our organisations. It’s an unlearning and undoing of all the issues and injustices that have permeated and become ingrained within our businesses. Externally, workplace culture is continually pressured by financial crises, global pandemics, climate emergencies and...

Business success in a seemingly never-ending pandemic? It’s not impossible, but it does take work. The magic lies in dialogue: helping us to solve difficult problems, spark innovation, boost engagement, and empower mental health within our organisations. Our lives are fostered around meaningful daily interactions: most of us conversing with...

Delivering rewarding work We all know that working as a consultant in the dispute resolution space is immensely rewarding. For those of us who have worked in house on this sort of activity not being bogged down by internal politics or hampered by any accusations of bias or partiality is...

“The next time I encounter yet another excuse for not addressing racism, injustice or fairness by an employer, I will whip out David Liddle’s Transformational Culture. I DARE every leader, manager, lawyer and HR person to read this book. He transforms outdated, rigid and harmful disciplinary processes based on retributive...

As Senior Communications Executive, I'm always front row at our webinars and conferences. Listening to Gary, our Head of Investigations & Audits, speak on his passion was inspiring and engaging. Here's a run-down of how the Introduction to Investigations webinar went last week. “Investigation meetings are often difficult and emotional,...

As a new member of the marketing and communications team at The TCM Group, my induction into the people-centred culture at TCM continued with a five-day training experience on their National Certificate in Workplace Mediation course. Mediation is the service that The TCM Group was founded on, providing resolution services...

Neil Fletcher joined the TCM investigations team after gaining 25 years of experience conducting investigations across a wide range of issues for global companies. At our recent investigation and audit services conference, we were privileged to hear his thoughts on the need for adequate training provision amongst those involved in...

At our recent investigations and audit services conference, we were very lucky to be joined by Davinder Sandhu, Head of Learning & Development at UNISON. During her presentation, she spoke on guiding participants through the investigation process and maintaining calm. Trade unions are a key pillar of support for participants,...

At our recent Investigation & Audit Services conference, we learned how to conduct a better investigation, but what is the most effective way to interview? Luckily to all those who attended, one of our very own resolution consultants took the time to present one of the very latest investigative techniques....

At our recent Investigation and Audit Services annual conference, we were very lucky to welcome along Patricia Grealish, Chief People Officer at NHS Blood & Transplant. In this post, our Senior Communications Executive, Robyn Marsh has highlighted the main learnings from her presentation… A self-proclaimed “people professional”, Patricia Grealish holds...

The annual Investigations & Audits Conference was a milestone for The TCM Group, with nearly 300 people signing up to listen to our speakers. Clearly, they had something worth listening to. Led by Gary Rogers, Head of Investigations & Audits at TCM, he was accompanied by Patricia Grealish, Chief People...

As the new Senior Communications Executive at The TCM Group, my team organised for me to participate in their Values-Based Leadership course to experience the company’s training services first-hand. Alongside mediation, investigations, and consulting, leadership training is a huge part of what we do, nestled in the heart of the...

What a wonderful company The TCM Group is! It certainly feels like I joined at the right time. Despite the pressures and financial uncertainties generated over the past year, we’ve had a record-breaking year. Perhaps fittingly so, as on June 20th, 2021, the company celebrated its 20th anniversary. As part of...

In light of our 20th-anniversary celebrations, I’ve been reflecting on my personal experience, and the many investigations cases we’ve conducted here at TCM. In support of those looking to improve the way they conduct their cases (and of course fitting to the ‘20’ theme), I wanted to share my top...

As TCM celebrates its 20th anniversary, we look back to see how far leadership development has come over the past 20 years. We also look forward, to share our predictions and the priorities for the next few years. In 2001, as David Liddle was launching TCM, the UK Labour Party...

When asked to write a blog entitled “20 benefits of mediation and resolution”, in celebration of the TCM Group’s 20th anniversary, I thought “What on earth could I write? Are there 20 benefits?” It got me thinking about the impact that mediation and resolution have had on me, my colleagues,...

A recent ACAS report has estimated that the total annual cost of conflict to UK organisations is £28.5 billion. That equates to approximately £1,000 per employee. But where do the costs actually come from? The costliest areas were found to be generated by resignations and formal procedures. The hidden costs...

Regrouping your teams Regrouping as a team and reconnecting as individuals is inspiring and exciting but comes with a degree of trepidation and anxiety for many people as well. The next phase will require managers to regroup their teams with compassion. Recognising the diverse experiences of people over the past...

Nearly half of respondents in a recent survey by an Australian legal reported bullying had increased during the covid period, whilst remote working was the norm.[1] As it seems increasingly likely that, post-Covid, organisations will move towards a hybrid style of working, where employees can continue to work from home...

A new e-Book for HR, managers, and leaders will help resolve tensions within the NHS. An innovative eBook ‘Redefining Resolution in Healthcare Organisations’ has been launched by The UK’s leading culture change and conflict resolution consultancy, The TCM Group. The eBook builds on lessons learned from 30 years of resolving...

Supporting leadership in the NHS TCM is currently working with several NHS Trusts to develop leadership capability, particularly in helping teams to work effectively together. In some cases, leaders in clinical settings have limited experience of leadership development opportunities and have focused their leadership activity on managing processes and technical...

The TCM Group is making its award-winning Resolution Framework™ freely available to organisations across the UK during 2021 In a recent survey conducted by the TCM Group, the UK’s leading provider of resolution in the workplace, 60% of respondents stated that COVID-19 had made it harder to resolve issues of...

I have written before about how I find it extraordinary that 90% of cases that go to Employment Tribunal are found in favour of the employee[1]. But why? Previously, I have explored the flawed investigation process as having contributed to such rulings, but that is not the sole reason employers...

Engage Leadership Presents: Our 2021 Annual Leadership Excellence Conference: Compassionate, inclusive leadership will be key to recovery in a Post COVID-19 world Assuming nothing is wrong in your organisation when it comes to inclusion and that policy is simply a fix to eliminate exclusion, is a high-risk strategy. Leaders must...

At a time when the pandemic has brought the issues of trust and values in the workplace into sharp focus, a new think-tank - the Institute of Organisational Dynamics - has launched, providing a central hub for individuals and organisations with an interest in transformative approaches to HR and leadership....

Simon Sapper, founder of the organisation, makes-you-think.com recently interviewed our CEO and founder, David Liddle, to take a deep dive into the world of mediation. Simon has over 30 years' experience in high-profile campaigning, regulatory and membership organisations across the public, private and voluntary sectors. Simon is an expert in...

Valentine's day. An international celebration of wonderful partnerships. We felt there was no better time to announce that The TCM Group has committed to a year-long partnership with two wonderful charities. Especially fitting with the Valentine's day theme is that one of our chosen causes is The British Heart Foundation. ...

Formed in August 2020, The Mediation Company is the newest addition to The TCM Group’s stable of professional dispute resolution, leadership, human resources and culture change initiatives. The Mediation Company offers small and medium-sized business leaders, family-run firms, charities, regulators and NGOs a fresh new approach for resolving disputes and...

Facing up to the challenge of bullying and harassment In today’s workplace, particularly with remote working becoming the ‘norm’, it’s never been more important to stay engaged with your colleagues and check-in with them to make sure they are ok. The need to engage with people is in our DNA,...

In one of my favourite novels, Of mice and men, by John Steinbeck, the character that leads the hunt for Lennie displays the typical characteristics of a ‘bully’.  Curley, who has a complex against larger men, takes out his frustrations and anger on the simple Lennie. I will not spoil...

The power of mediation has been a revelation to me over the past year. Since joining TCM in February last year I’ve got to know far more about resolution, mediation and facilitated conversations than I knew existed and I’ve been blown away by how much damage can be repaired in...

Aldous Huxley’s novel centred on a state which had made significant scientific advancements and has been compared to 1984 by another great author, George Orwell. Notwithstanding both novels centred around a futuristic World state, the foresight of these two great authors into advanced technology was ahead of its time. However,...

The TCM Group’s recent HR Consultancy of the Year win at the Personnel Today awards reflects a shift towards a ‘human-shaped workforce,’ to which HR must respond, argues CEO David Liddle “In 2021, HR has the potential to become one of the most important functions in the modern business,” comments...

Last Friday marked World Kindness Day, this week is International Leadership week. Many may not have known the two were directly linked, but our experts in leadership and management development at The TCM Group believe kindness to be a fundamental leadership capacity. Especially during the particularly challenging circumstances the present...

https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/how-to-dampen-worplace-conflict-tinder-box-lockdown-coronavirus/ Team spirit is under strain as winter comes on amid a new lockdown. Employers need to implement new strategies to limit the risks of growing volatility, writes David Liddle, because the old tried and tested ones just won’t do anymore. Virtual working is once again becoming the norm, as...

I’m sure you have visited countless offices where organisational values are hung on the wall, displayed proudly for all employees to see. This may be the case in your own company. Yet how many times have you or your colleagues raised an eyebrow at what feels like an empty list...

https://nadinepowrie.com/how-to-use-mediation-to-resolve-conflicts/ Welcome to the 69th episode of my latest podcast #Leadingthecoachingchange. You may know that 2 weeks ago I qualified civil, commercial and workplace mediator. It makes sense to start talking more about the power of meditation in my podcast. So for this week’s podcast, I invited David Liddle as...

It’s a very soggy day in most of the UK today and the rain has been coming down hard all through the early hours of the morning. I feel extremely fortunate to be warm and sheltered indoors, where the conditions are right to finish the working week in safety and...

Surely now isn’t the time for NHS Leaders to be considering a radical overhaul to longstanding policies and procedures? The current pandemic poses the most challenging time that our NHS workers will have ever faced, I think we all realise that. The pressure upon healthcare leaders is of course, paramount...

Are your leaders fit and ready for the biggest leadership challenge of their careers? Now is a key moment, when many leaders are facing the biggest leadership challenge of their careers. Many middle managers and team leaders won’t have experienced the challenges of leading through the most recent economic crises...

As an avid Jazz fan, I have always found it interesting how Jazz and the seedy portrayal of investigators are linked. From those early Black & White films portraying seedy Private Detectives like Mike Hammer, silhouetted lighting a cigarette, to the down-trodden British 1970's 'Enquiry Agents' in a grubby Stone...

Like most people around the world, I have found that the current circumstances have given me a lot more time to do some of the things that I usually do not have time to do, for me that means having time to listen to my jazz collection. As I spent...

How to stop work stress tipping over into family conflict. Thanks to the Coronavirus, work is intruding on our home lives like never before. Unprecedented numbers of us are now working remotely, isolated from the support of our colleagues and trying to get to grips with new working practices and unfamiliar...

As all organisations begin to adapt to a more diverse workforce, Gary Rogers our Head of Investigation & Audit Services took time to reflect on how technology is playing its part and what the future holds for conducting investigations. Please click here to download. About the author Gary Rogers is...

Some thoughts from Gary Rogers our Head of Investigation & Audit Services at The TCM Group on conducting remote interviews. Please click here to download. About the author Gary Rogers is the Head of Investigation & Audit Services at The TCM Group (Train. Consult. Mediate.). Read his blog on technology and...

If there is a positive for organisations from recent events, it is that it has brought out the innovators and inventors in a pool of talented people across the world. Adapting to new ways of carrying out business as usual, a wide reaching appreciation and embracing of flexible and remote...

Bob Dylan certainly expressed his views on how times were changing back in the mid 1960's and this is certainly true in today's landscape. Let's put aside the unprecedented circumstances affecting the world, the evolution of technology has been at pace and it's often felt that we have not adapted...

or, why the time has come for a radical rethink of Human Resources. If there is one potential positive that comes out of the current Coronavirus crisis it is this - it presents a much needed opportunity for HR to take stock and to reflect. We are witnessing some powerful...

Date published: 21st February 2020 No team is too good for conflict! Conflict emerging in teams can indicate a healthy, innovative and high-growth culture. Sometimes however, that conflict can spill over into division and dysfunction, knocking a previously high-functioning team off course. It is precisely at these times of complex group...

TCM is delighted to welcome Claire Gearon, who joins the team this week as Head of Programmes and Managing Director. In this new role, Claire will focus on helping to develop leadership and culture change programmes for our clients, as well as providing day-to-day leadership for our rapidly growing business....

Date published: 27th March 2020 How are values the secret to high engagement and superior performance? Values can be powerful enablers of high performance in teams, enabling them to work in flow with extraordinary results. By aligning values with their vision, their strategy and their behaviours, leaders create a sense...

Date published: 31st March 2020 In times of uncertainty and anxiety, it is more important than ever to look out for the signs of conflict arising between work colleagues.  All the usual rules of work have been thrown out of the window.  Increasing numbers of people are working from home,...

Author: Erika Lucas Date published: October 2019 There’s no doubt that flexible working plays an important role in organisational success. There’s a whole body of research to show the positive impact it can have on performance, productivity, talent retention and employee engagement and well-being. Managed poorly, however, it can become...

What are the key skills managers will need in their toolkit as they enter the future world of work? A recent study from Hult Ashridge puts relational skills, such as influencing, communication and negotiation, top of the list. Researchers suggest, however, that these skills need to be developed much earlier...

A recent article in Harvard Business Review highlights the issue of the ‘toxic’ employee. I’m sure everyone reading this has come across this kind of colleague at some point in their career.  The individual who thrives on gossip and rumour, shouts down ideas, is unnecessarily obstructive and generally has nothing...

Getting investigation's right first time. It is important that your investigation is right first time to withstand any potential disciplinary, appeal or employment tribunal scrutiny.  Fair, subjective, impartial and thorough are all common phrases used when describing a good investigation. But, when the investigation is not done thoroughly, fairly, and...

What rules should you follow when conducting a workplace investigation? To understand how to get an investigation right first time first we need to acknowledge the common pitfalls that are often made when conducting a workplace investigation. Using poorly trained internal investigators (or worse – untrained investigators), who have other...

Customer First's 2019 assessment of The TCM Group finds them to be: “A very professional organisation that embraces continuous improvement and puts values at the heart of its business”. Putting the customer first has always been out mantra here at The TCM Group since our inception in 2001. We have...

“How do I best deal with office banter when it makes me feel uncomfortable?” This is the question posed by a reader in the ‘work dilemmas’ section of this weekend’s Sunday Times Style magazine. Journalist Carrie Gracie (who famously resigned as BBC News’ China Editor last year in a row...

There’s a huge contradiction at the heart of most workplaces. It attacks productivity, saps morale and leaves everyone

The TCM Group announce the launch of their ‘Clear Your Desk of Conflict’ campaign

The TCM Group announce the launch of their ‘Clear Your Desk of Conflict’ campaign

Formal approaches that are centred around blame and retribution are not the answer

There’s a huge contradiction at the heart of most workplaces. It attacks productivity, saps morale and leaves everyone

It’s that time of year when we carve scary pumpkins, don spooky fancy dress and generally celebrate the creepier things in life.

I bet you’re thinking, isn’t it both: a threat and an opportunity? Of course, you would be right.

When the times get tough, the team keeps going. It has been noted that Rugby Union is a “game for hooligans, played by gentleman”.

It is a very public dispute that has already affected millions of people, and the London Underground network could well be halted by further strikes

The TCM Group is one of six finalists in the “Consultancy of the Year” category, which recognises the achievements of Human Resources for consultants and consultancies.

When work is working, we feel valued, engaged, nurtured and supported – it’s a wonderful feeling and it gives meaning to our lives – we feel happy.

As a senior detective and police manager, I spent a disproportionate amount of time dealing with staff grievances, public complaints and misconduct enquiries.

Standing in an inner-city estate in Leicester, David Liddle takes a deep breath. It’s 1995, and the young mediator has been using his skills to help solve community issues

Making a disclosure in the public interest, or ‘whistle blowing’ as it’s more commonly known, has been making prominent media headlines again.

Don’t: avoid difficult conversations. At some stage every business has to make tough decisions that may not be popular with everyone.

Perceived wisdom has it that the only way to stop bullies is to stand up to them….but I tried it and it didn’t work….so if you’ve been the victim of bullying read on.

The Professional Mediation Association held their Annual General Meeting and National Mediation Awards last week at Browns Courtrooms