About REAL Solutions, Inc.

If you are “in conflict” like we are, this is the place for you.   Being “in conflict” is powerful because it signals that you recognize differences, diversity, and the complexity and joy of collaboration.  Working with others is, for us, pure motivation… conflict is always a ripe opportunity for growth, innovation and change!

In the mid-90′s, we were searching for options that would help us in conflict – we were in lots of it!  Like virtually everyone, we’d suffered unhappy relationships, workplaces, committee’s, teams and communities and yet felt nothing but hope in our own potential for choice, control, collaboration and cost-effectiveness.

We had questions – how to we use the energy that was being wasted in disagreement and build long lasting teams and competencies that would stick?  At that time, we found no such forum – not on the Internet, not in the yellow pages, academia, associations or the places we lived and worked.   Resolving issues meant a complicated set of choices that were mind bogglingly rigid, situational, heavy handed or costly.  And it is still largely that way.

Happily, there were some trends and programs for conflict resolution that seemed to be starting to fill the gaps between existing options in law, sociology, the military and industrial, organizational, international and even personal development.  These provided starting points for a more cohesive community but fundamentally who or what was connecting the dots was still an unanswerable question – conflict understanding and resolution remained full of complex, distinct, and costly options.

Today, options for alternative dispute resolution remain jumbled – they are better supported and promoted, but even today remain in the domain of formal professions (courts, lawyers and academics) or sketchy “put a shingle out as a coach” services.  Most recently, the need for better perspective in resolving issues has been filled by coaching in a wildly broad myriad of forms.   As we’ve followed, explored and grown in our own competency in helping others to navigate the rich and complex network of conflict management information, resources can support, we’ve continued to see people fall through the cracks – often.

Our question was, “how can conflict management options be more accessible, cost-effective, and cohesive?”

That was where “Conflict Navigation™” originated.  Hundreds have joined our conversation.

REAL Solutions, Inc. is a boutique firm of experienced, qualified Conflict Navigators intent on helping people, leaders, managers and teams and their people to use and be “in” conflict using options that save money, time and relationships.

Anyone can oppose. It’s fun to be against things. But there comes a time when you have to start being for things as well.
~ Charles II , The Libertine

REAL Solutions, Inc. is unique because we engage traditional and (typically) expensive conflict management, training or team-building methods but use cost-effective and cutting edge trends that avoid hazardous costs, gaps and failures.

Even today, people have begged us to deliver these same traditional costly interventions… and we’ve studied and learned why: the traditions are familiar, and easy to accept. It seems crazy, but people accept the costs – and the potential and reality of failure. You know the drill, expensive, likable consultants come in and evaluate and deliver straightforward reports, recommendations and sometimes training or workshops… then …. nothing – NOTHING – seems to change. Without some level of whole scale, transformational or deep change, people get demoralized, discouraged, distrustful, bitter – or even fired.

We know the opposite of traditional is agile, engaged and useful complexity and challenge. Such change addresses the push-back defenses and “conflict” that adapts and recognizes strengths, reality, speed and innovation.

We’ve seen our clients benefit best when we:

• partner with them to provide perspective – not advice, building trust fast.
• encourage leaders to focus on helping “the rubber hit the road”, demonstrating through their actions clear signals of what they value.
• help them recognize the overwhelming cost of: attrition, poor alignment/orientation, grievances, investigations, settlements, project and hiring failures, or court-battles.
• trade “event”-like training and low ROI team-building investments for effective (adult-learning-based) blended-community workshops that shift and/or integrate crucial values, behaviors and performance measures.
• incorporate strengths
• use the best of what they already invest and find effective in solving problems (build on existing harmony, unrest and what is working). Curious about what we mean by “building on areas of unrest”? See this post (coming soon).
• get to the underlying systemic dysfunctions – and extinguish them.
• reassign resources (time, money, brain-power) to opportunities rather than issues.

Here is what sets us apart:

1) Amazing Value – We get real results right away. You start making progress as soon as we get started. No more lights at the end of tunnels – we shed light on the solutions immediately. No more never-ending frustration with consulting that never seems to lead to a conclusion.

2) Amazing Measurable Results – Our Swift Evaluation Audit will help you identify immediate needs for long term results. On completion of a REAL Solutions, Inc. program, clients are invited to compare their pre and post program results. We actually measure our effectiveness and share these results with our clients!

3) Concrete Tools and Programs – By giving our clients easy-to use and understand tools, we ensure that they are equipped to take steps and make progress. Sometimes small connections, but big results. It’s hard to change the nature of a relationship, culture or area of competency in no time, but making progress is what people want. People need both “a-ha” events, and follow-up support for commitment and change. Our programs support this as key to achieve dramatic and satisfying results.

4) Remarkable Coaches – All our coaches have experienced major transitions and challenges in their own lives. They are dedicated to helping you figure out how you will ultimately find resolution that sticks for you, without the expense, risk and costs that they’ve experienced. This means you get their support, but not their solutions (that will never work for you!). Working with a Conflict Navigator, individuals and teams lay out a course of action that leads to doable, practical and progressive solutions… no lengthy recommendations, homework, assessments, or lists of judgements or labels to apply… just real progress in every interaction that connect the dots that satisfy and address real need.

Our methods are simple and we trust in your ability to recognize the things you want. We help you with information, resources and support to get people to engage, adapt and learn to achieve solutions that result in those things. Our solutions and system-focused products and services recognize that you know your world better than we ever can. And we’re in conflict so you don’t have to be – we take the frustration out of it.

Take a look at what our clients have to say. If you have any questions about what we do, call us – we will be happy to answer them!