Escalation phases and deadlock situations in existing relationships
Whenever companies decide to cooperate for a long term it is not uncommon to run through a phase of “stress and tension” at some time during the contract duration. The reasons are various, e.g. a change for responsible persons, economical parameters worsening for one of the parties, a deterioration of service qualities, unmatched expectations, etc.
The consulting support is concentrating on my active involvement for this phase as external specialist with a huge advantage: emotional distance to the current situation as well as the business relationship itself. The following activities are key in this phase:
Analysing the situation, the standpoints and subjects of all parties, root-cause analysis and interdependencies, courses of action, designing a schedule comprising the next steps, communication measures and tactical scenarios, pre and post meeting preparations, supporting the escalation meetings and/or coaching of the company’s responsibles.
Typically, these situations require a very close cooperation with the company’s lawyers involved.