The Restorative Lab

What are Restorative Practices and how can they help?

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What are Restorative Practices and how can they help?

A restorative approach

When conflict happens in the workplace or people experience inappropriate behaviour at work relationships break down, teams deteriorate and productivity is affected. A restorative approach offers an alternative way for organisations to address discipline, behaviour, performance and communication issues and offers a consistent framework for responding to these issues. A restorative way of working seeks reconciliation over punishment.

Restorative practices

A restorative practice is a well established process of dealing with conflict that works with all the parties involved to hear the different points of view, explore the impact the conflict is having and finding mutually agreeable solutions. Restorative practices involve:

  • bringing together all those affected by the issue

  • creating a safe environment

  • developing Emotional Intelligence (EI) through listening and acknowledgement

  • allowing participants to come to a shared understanding

  • identifying creative ways to deal with the issue

  • providing opportunities to rebuild damaged relationships and strengthen teams

  • encouraging appropriate behaviour change

  • promoting learning and shared responsibility

Restorative systems and culture

Restorative practices work best when they are not isolated but form part of a restorative culture. A restorative culture sees the transformation of conflict as an opportunity for growth and innovation. An organisation that fully embraces restorative practices has the potential to create a safer, happier and more productive workplace for everyone.

While processes such as workplace mediation can help with specific issues, they tend to focus on a particular conflict and its resolution. Restorative practice has a wider focus and aims to build better relationships and a stronger workplace culture. A restorative culture at work encourages everyone involved to find a positive way forward.

The Restorative Lab likes to work cross-organisationally to develop the ethos, skills and processes needed to build, maintain and repair relationships at all levels. This approach is immersive; we get to know you and you get to know us over time. We support changes in behaviour for employees, develop policy, offer strategic support and challenge, develop positive relationships with stakeholders and significantly enhance employee engagement.