Conflict Management

CONFLICT MGT.

CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

* Refers to the long term management of intractable conflicts

* Conflict mgt is not the same as conflict resolution.

* Conflict resolution refers to resolving the dispute to the approval of one or both parties while conflict mgt concerns an ongoing process that may never have a resolution.

Major concerns to take into account when one engages in a conflict:

1. Achieving personal goals

2. Keeping a good relationship with the other

Conflict management strategies:

Withdrawing

* avoiding; not paying attention to the conflict and not taking any action to resolve it.

The turtle style

* Turtles withdraw into their shells to avoid conflicts

* Give up personal goals and relationships

* Stay away from issues over which the conflict is taking place

* Believe that it is hopeless to try to resolve conflicts and it is easier to withdraw from the conflict than face it.

Forcing

* Using formal authority or other power that you possess to satisfy your concerns without regards to the concerns of the party that you are in conflict with.

The shark style

* Try to overpower opponents by forcing them to accept their solution to the conflict

* Goals are highly important than relationship

* Try to win by attacking overpowering, overwhelming and intimidating other people

Smoothing

* Allowing other party to satisfy their concerns while neglecting your own

The teddy bear

* Relationship is of great importance while own goals are of little importance

* Wants to be accepted and liked by people

* Afraid that if conflict continues, someone will get hurt and consequently ruin the relationship

* “I give up my goals just for you to like me”.

Compromising

* Attempting to resolve a conflict by identifying a solution that is partially satisfactory to both parties, but completely satisfactory to neither.

The fox

* Moderately concerned with their own goals and about their...