Managing conflict

Knowing When to Use Different Styles

So when should you use different styles? Here's a brief summary of the different conflict and confrontation strategies in use.

Competitive/Confrontational Style

• Issue important or big stake in outcome.
  
• Have power and authority.
  
• No other options; nothing to lose.
  
• Quick decision needed; emergency situation.
  
• At an impasse; can't get group agreement.
  
• Unpopular decision needed and you have the power to make it.
  

Avoiding Style

• Issue unimportant or little stake in outcome.
  
• Lack power to resolve situation well or at all.
  
• Can't win or low chance of winning.
  
• Want to delay to get information or help.
  
• Want to cool down tensions.
  
• Danger of worse conflict if it becomes open.
  
• Others can or will resolve the matter better.
  

Accommodating Style

• Issue unimportant, don't care about outcome.
  
• Have little power, no or low chance of winning.
  
• Issue and outcome more important to others.
  
• Want to keep peace; harmony with others important.
  
• Good relationship more important than issue.
  
• You are wrong, the other person is right.
  
• Other person might learn from situation though wrong.
  

Collaborative Style

• Issue important to both.
  
• Similar power or willing to put aside power differences.
  
• Have a close, continuing, interdependent relationship.
  
• Have time and willing to spend time and effort.
  
• Both able to discuss and listen.
  

Compromising Style

• Have different goals, and goals not too important.
  
• Have similar power.
  
• Want resolution quickly; temporary resolution okay.
  
• Provides short-term gain.
  
• A fallback position when collaboration or competition don't work.
  
• Compromise is better than nothing.