There are five different conflict styles and each has its advantages and uses. Let’s find out how they can help you resolve any conflict.
There are many types of arguments: those that have been brewing for years, others that appear out of nowhere, and others that are resolved in a matter of minutes. Being aware of the different styles of conflict and using this knowledge in practice can help in your personal and professional life.
Experts believe that there are 5 different types of conflict styles:
to avoid
absorb
cooperation
competition
compromise
Understanding when to use a particular conflict style will help you resolve any argument in the best way possible.
So the first stage in deciding which conflict technique to use is to look at each one in detail:
- Avoidance
Avoiding or withdrawing from an argument is the easiest way to resolve a conflict because you’re cutting yourself out of the equation. Either ignore the conflict or pretend it isn’t happening. It takes no effort from you apart from a particularly relaxed, hands-off stance.
When to use avoidance
Avoidance works best for trivial cases or those where you have no chance of winning at all. This way you can step back safely and save your dignity. Avoidance is also best when you’re dealing with an expensive problem or it’s just too hot. Politely withdrawing creates a much-needed space for both parties to cool off.
In general, these types of conflicts will usually resolve themselves without much input from you, so avoidance in these cases is a good tactic. However, for more serious or emotional conflicts, avoidance is not a good long-term solution.
- Grasping
Accommodating is where you accept the other person’s point of view and cooperate with their decisions. In these types of conflicts, you are the one doing all the acknowledgment and acceptance. At the same time, you must be careful that by doing so, you do not feel resentment.
When to use the accommodation
In conflicts where it is important to make peace and move forward quickly, accommodation is a great tactic. You may lose some ground and have to put your goals on the back burner. However, when the other party is an expert or simply has a better idea than you, adapting is a sure way forward. It is also useful for maintaining good relations with that person or company in the future.
- Cooperation
You need a great deal of courage and self-respect when it comes to cooperating with the other person. This is because you are required to listen to their point of view, discuss where you agree and disagree, and then decide how you will move forward. Collaborating with the other side is a creative process and is one of the best ways to resolve conflict.
When to use collaboration
Any complex argument where immediate resolution is not possible benefits greatly from cooperation. Any argument you can make is best resolved with a new solution or expanded dialogue in collaboration. You need to be able to trust the other person because cooperation takes effort and can take a long time.
- Competing
This is where you stand your ground and don’t accept what the other side is suggesting or suggesting. Here you compete for the best solution and you will do whatever it takes to win the argument. This can be good for some short term issues but should not be used for any long term disputes.
When to use competition
Realize that by being competitive, you’re not taking into account the other person’s feelings and that could be your downfall. But they do well in conflicts where you need a very quick decision, in emergency situations where a quick decision is necessary or where someone needs to be decisive.
- Bargain
Perhaps the best way to resolve any dispute is settlement. This is where the two parties come together and take steps to resolve the conflict where both can get a good outcome. Usually, the bigger issues are dealt with and the smaller ones are forgotten.
When to use bargaining
Whenever you need a temporary solution or a solution where both parties have issues of equal importance, settlement is a great solution. Both parties require a certain degree of self-respect and assertiveness. You can fall into the trap of compromising issues that are very important to you. Therefore, it is important to work out with the other person what you are willing to give up and what you cannot.
Knowing which of these conflict styles to use when you’re in the middle of an argument means you can instantly choose the best style for handling this type of conflict, as it happens.
