Mediation: Turning Team Conflicts into a Resource Rather Than a Loss

16/ 09/ 2026

On 16 September, the EBA Mediation Hub hosted an online meeting focused on how businesses can approach team conflicts systematically and turn challenging situations into opportunities for constructive solutions. The meeting was moderated by Kateryna Prysiazhniuk, Coordinator of the EBA Mediation Hub. The key speaker was Halyna Yeremenko, professional mediator and Director of the Ukrainian Centre for Mediation. The discussion focused on how companies can move from responding to conflicts after they arise towards developing systems that help identify and address them in a timely and constructive manner. According to Halyna Yeremenko, conflict itself is not necessarily a problem. Significant losses for businesses occur when the parties involved lack the appropriate tools to address it effectively. Participants explored different levels of conflict management, from developing conflict-management awareness and negotiation skills within teams to engaging a professional mediator when internal resources are no longer sufficient to reach mutual understanding. This approach views the ability to work constructively with conflict as an integral part of an organisation’s professional culture, rather than solely the responsibility of managers or HR professionals. Particular attention was given to communication techniques that can help change the dynamics of difficult conversations. Among the practical tools discussed were reframing, shifting the focus from finding someone to blame towards identifying common interests, and moving from past grievances to solutions focused on the future. The way questions are formulated also plays an important role, as it can either intensify confrontation or create space for dialogue and reaching agreements. The meeting also highlighted that conflict management in business goes far beyond the situational resolution of disputes. It is about creating an environment where difficult conversations can take place openly, the interests of all parties can be heard, and conflict can become a driver for constructive change and joint problem-solving. The EBA Dnipro team thanks Halyna Yeremenko for sharing her practical expertise and effective tools with the participants, as well as everyone who joined the discussion and contributed to strengthening a culture of constructive interaction in the business community.

The discussion focused on how companies can move from responding to conflicts after they arise towards developing systems that help identify and address them in a timely and constructive manner. According to Halyna Yeremenko, conflict itself is not necessarily a problem. Significant losses for businesses occur when the parties involved lack the appropriate tools to address it effectively.

Participants explored different levels of conflict management, from developing conflict-management awareness and negotiation skills within teams to engaging a professional mediator when internal resources are no longer sufficient to reach mutual understanding. This approach views the ability to work constructively with conflict as an integral part of an organisation’s professional culture, rather than solely the responsibility of managers or HR professionals.

Particular attention was given to communication techniques that can help change the dynamics of difficult conversations. Among the practical tools discussed were reframing, shifting the focus from finding someone to blame towards identifying common interests, and moving from past grievances to solutions focused on the future. The way questions are formulated also plays an important role, as it can either intensify confrontation or create space for dialogue and reaching agreements.

The meeting also highlighted that conflict management in business goes far beyond the situational resolution of disputes. It is about creating an environment where difficult conversations can take place openly, the interests of all parties can be heard, and conflict can become a driver for constructive change and joint problem-solving.

The EBA Dnipro team thanks Halyna Yeremenko for sharing her practical expertise and effective tools with the participants, as well as everyone who joined the discussion and contributed to strengthening a culture of constructive interaction in the business community.