Conflict Management Styles Assessment
1. answer
the questionnaire.
2. Discover your
style.
What was your highest-total style?
What style was your lowest-total style?
Here are brief descriptions of the 5 different conflict management styles:
(A) Collaborating Style
“I bend, you bend.”
Problems are solved in ways in which an optimum result is provided for all involved. Both sides get what they want and negative feelings are minimized.
PROS: Creates mutual trust, maintains positive relationships, builds commitments.
CONS: Time consuming, energy consuming.
(B) Competing Style
“I win, you lose.”
The authoritarian approach.
PROS: Goal oriented, quick.
CONS: May breed hostility.
(C) Avoiding Style
“No winners, no losers.”
The non--confrontational approach.
PROS: Does not escalate conflict, postpones difficulty.
CONS: Unaddressed problems, unresolved issues.
(D) Accomodating Style
“I lose, you win.”
Giving in to maintain relationships.
PROS: Minimizes injury when we are outmatched; relationships are maintained.
CONS: Breeds resentment, exploits the weak.
(E) Compromizing Style
“I bend, you bend.”
The middle ground approach.
PROS: Useful in complex issues without simple solutions; all parties are equal in power.
CONS: No one is ever really satisfied; less than optimal solutions are implemented.
So... What are you?
-
So... What are you? -
3. Discover your
animal.
IF YOU CHOSE (A), YOU ARE AN OWL.
Owls highly value both their goals and their relationships. They view conflict as a problem to be solved and seek a solution that achieves both their goals and the goals of the other person. Owls see conflicts as a means of improving relationships by reducing tensions between two persons. They try to begin a discussion that identifies the conflict as a problem, and strive to resolve tensions and maintain the relationship by seeking solutions that satisfy both themselves and the other person.
IF YOU CHOSE (B), YOU ARE A SHARK.
Sharks typically value their goals over relationships, meaning that if forced to choose, they would seek to achieve their goals even at the cost of the relationship involved. Sharks are typically more concerned with accomplishing their goals than with being liked by others. They might try to force opponents to accept their solution to the conflict by overpowering them.
IF YOU CHOSE (C), YOU ARE A TURTLE.
Turtles tend to value avoiding confrontation more than either their goals or relationships. They often find it easier to withdraw from a conflict than to face it. This might even include completely giving up relationships or goals that are associated with the conflict.
IF YOU CHOSE (D), YOU ARE A TEDDY BEAR.
Teddy Bears typically value relationships over their own goals; if forced to choose, Teddy Bears will often sacrifice their goals in order to maintain relationships. Teddy Bears generally want to be liked by others, and prefer to avoid conflict because they believe addressing it will damage relationships. Teddy Bears try to smooth over conflict to prevent damage to the relationship.
IF YOU CHOSE (E), YOU ARE A FOX.
Foxes are moderately concerned with both their goals and their relationships with others. Foxes typically seek a compromise; they give up part of their goals and persuade the other person in a conflict to give up part of their goals. They seek a conflict solution in which both sides gain something; the middle ground between two extreme positions, They are willing to sacrifice part of their goals in order to find agreement for the common goal.