2.7 Adjusting your Conflict Strategy

Below each type of conflict management style is described in more detail so that you can recognize when to use one strategy over another. 

Avoiding

Avoiding means not immediately pursuing your own concerns, or those of the other person, to address the conflict. Avoidance might take the form of diplomatically sidestepping an issue, postponing an issue until a better time, or simply withdrawing from a threatening situation. Generally this strategy is seen as uncooperative.

Avoiding is best used when the costs of confronting a conflict outweigh the benefits of resolving it. It is best used when you need to let people cool down and regain perspective and composure or when you think others can resolve the issue more effectively than you.

Accommodating

Accommodating means putting aside your own concerns to satisfy concerns of the other person. Use of accommodation might take the form of selfless generosity or deferring to another’s point of view. Accommodating is considered cooperative.

Accommodating is best used when preserving harmony and avoiding disruption are especially important. This could be when you are having difficulty expressing your concern and more discussion in the moment will only damage your cause or distract you both from your primary goal of providing clinical care. When you realize that your position may be misinformed, this strategy allows a better solution to be put forward and shows that you are reasonable.

Compromising

Compromising means to find an expedient, mutually acceptable solution that partially satisfies all parties. Compromise might mean splitting the difference or seeking a quick middle-ground position. Compromising is seen as both cooperative and uncooperative, depending on the degree of compromise.

Compromise is best used when you want to achieve a temporary solution for a complex issue, such as when you need to arrive at an expedient solution under time pressure or realize that the issue is complex and a more in-depth discussion should be deferred to another time.

Collaborating

Collaborating means attempting to work with other people to find a solution that fully satisfies the concerns of all. Use of collaboration might involve digging into an issue to identify the underlying concerns of individuals to find an alternative that meets everyone’s needs. Collaborating is generally considered cooperative.

Collaborating is best used when you want input from people with different perspectives on a problem, such as  when you want to gain commitment by including others’ concerns into a consensual decision or when you need to work through hard feelings that have been interfering with a relationship.

Competing 

Competing means pursuing your own concerns ahead of others. Sometimes this means using power to progress past roadblocks. Use of competition might mean standing up for your rights or defending a position you believe is correct. Competing is generally considered uncooperative.

Competing is best used when quick, decisive action is vital. This may occur when time-sensitive issues arise related to an important concern for a client, unpopular courses of action need implementing, or when you need to protect yourself from people who take advantage of non-competitive behavior. Use competing to set boundaries when needed.