The Five Styles of Conflict Resolution

Conflicts can arise at any time. How you utilize conflict resolution strategies depends on both your conflict style and your conflict resolution skills. There are many different ways to respond to conflict situations; some conflict styles involve a considerate or cooperative approach while others involve either a competitive or passive approach.

Conflict Styles

Those who have proper conflict resolution training understand how to diffuse the situation and reach an agreement that satisfies all parties. The first step in conflict resolution is understanding the various styles of conflict. The five styles of conflict include:

• Avoiding the Conflict
  Avoiding or withdrawing from a conflict requires no courage or consideration for the other party. By avoiding the conflict, you essentially pretend that it never happened or doesn’t exist. Some examples of avoidance or withdrawal include pretending there is nothing wrong, stonewalling or completely shutting down.
• Giving In
  Giving in or accommodating the other party requires a lot of cooperation and little courage. Basically, you agree to accommodate the other party by acknowledging and accepting his point of view or suggestion. This style might be viewed as letting the other party have his way. While this style can lead to making peace and moving forward, it can also lead to the accommodator feeling resentment toward the other party
• Standing your Ground
  While standing your ground requires courage, it can also be inconsiderate. By standing your ground, you are essentially competing with the other party; you’ll do anything to ensure that you win the battle. The fact is, a competitive approach offers short term rewards, but in the long term effects can be detrimental to your business.
• Compromising
  Compromising is a big step toward conflict resolution. Both courage and consideration are used when both parties look for common ground. You agree to negotiate larger points and let go of the smaller points; this style expedites the resolution process. Occasionally, the person compromising might use passive-aggressive tactics to mislead the other party, so beware.
• Collaborating
  Collaboration plays a major role within conflict resolution and requires great courage and much consideration. Collaborating with the other party involves listening to their side, discussing areas of agreement and goals, and ensuring that all parties understand each other. Collaboration requires thinking creatively to resolve the problem without concessions. Collaborators are usually admired and well-respected.

Obtain Negotiation and Conflict Resolution Training 100% Online!

If you’re seeking high-quality conflict resolution skills from a proven leader, consider the Executive Certificate in Negotiation program from the University of Notre Dame. Offered 100% online by Notre Dame’s acclaimed Mendoza College of Business, the executive certificate program is delivered via a flexible, video-based e-learning platform that allows you to complete your courses anytime and anywhere.

Negotiation strategies are a key part of Notre Dame’s conflict resolution training. The executive certificate program consists of three eight-week online courses: Negotiation Essentials, Advanced Negotiations and Strategies for Conflict Management. All courses are led by program faculty – the same award-winning professors who teach on the Notre Dame campus.

Through Notre Dame’s Executive Certificate in Negotiation program, you’ll gain the power to improve your interpersonal relations, apply proven conflict resolution strategies, and enhance your influence and success in any business setting. Upon completion of each course and the entire executive certificate program, you’ll receive a certificate of achievement from world-renowned Notre Dame, which is regionally accredited and consistently ranked a Best National University by U.S. News & World Report.

With the advanced skills and powerful credentials you’ll gain through Notre Dame’s Executive Certificate in Negotiation, you’ll be able to successfully implement effective conflict resolution techniques and demonstrate you have what it takes to excel in an executive management role. 

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Category: Negotiations