Organizations are constantly looking for new ways of managing conflicts both internally and externally. Conflict management plays a critical role in preventing unnecessary disruptions in workplaces. The process has been necessitated by the introduction of five modes of conflict handling, which “measure individuals’ personalities based on cooperativeness and assertiveness”. Labrague et al. (2018) also observed that the two elements dictate how people respond to conflict. This means that managers must strive to understand how conflict-handling modes and negotiation skills will inform their responses to conflict. The paragraphs below discuss the five conflict-handling modes and their role in conflict resolution.
- Accommodating: This mode is characterized by low assertiveness and high cooperativeness. Some individuals are more likely to allow others to have their ways (give in easily) and lack the willpower to stand up for what they believe in. Accommodating people are known to avoid confrontation or unpleasant interaction and, instead, sacrifices their personal needs to satisfy others.
- Avoiding: This conflict-handling mode usually indicates low assertiveness and cooperativeness. This means that the avoidant does not prioritize their needs as well as those of others. In fact, such individuals would prefer not to be associated with the conflict-they sometimes refuse to engage in it. Overall, the avoidant views conflict as lose-lose, which explains they are regarded as diplomatic.
- Collaborating: This conflict-handling mode is characterized by high assertiveness and cooperativeness. Collaborative people tend to declare their stand and state their needs plainly as they work with others towards a satisfactory outcome. Such individuals are interested in understanding others’ points of view in order to achieve a win-win situation. The aim is to ensure all the involved parties reach a balanced outcome.
- Competing: This conflict-handling mode usually indicates high assertiveness and cooperation. According to Labrague et al. (2018), competitive people are driven by the desire to get what they want regardless of other people’s needs. In fact, such people will go to the extent of using their power to intimidate others into supporting their point of view.
- Compromising: The comprising mode is characterized by moderate assertiveness and cooperativeness. Here, the focus is to reach a consensus by ensuring all the parties involved are treated equally. In other words, the conflict gets resolved with each party getting their needs partially met.
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