CHAPTER 14 WORKSHOP How Do You Handle Conflict?

Think about how you typically handle a dispute with a team member, friend, or co-worker, and then answer the following statements based on whether they are True or False for you. There are no right or wrong answers, so answer honestly.

Mostly True Mostly False 1. I feel that differences are not worth arguing about. _____ _____ 2. I would avoid a person who wants to discuss a disagreement. _____ _____ 3. I would rather keep my views to myself than argue. _____ _____ 4. I typically avoid taking positions that create a dispute. _____ _____ 5. I try hard to win my position. _____ _____ 6. I strongly assert my opinion in a disagreement. _____ _____ 7. I raise my voice to get other people to accept my position. _____ _____ 8. I stand firm in expressing my viewpoint. _____ _____ 9. I give in a little if other people do the same. _____ _____ 10. I will split the difference to reach an agreement. _____ _____ 11. I offer tradeoffs to reach a solution. _____ _____ 12. I give up some points in exchange for others. _____ _____ 13. I dont want to hurt others feelings. _____ _____ 14. I am quick to agree when someone I am arguing with makes a good point. _____ _____ 15. I try to smooth over disagreements by minimizing their seriousness. _____ _____ 16. I want to be considerate of other peoples emotions. _____ _____ 17. I suggest a solution that includes the other persons point of view. _____ _____ 18. I combine arguments into a new solution from ideas raised in the dispute. _____ _____ 19. I try to include the other persons ideas to create a solution they will accept. _____ _____ 20. I assess the merits of other viewpoints as equal to my own. _____ _____ Scoring and Interpretation:

Five categories of conflict-handling strategies are measured by these 20 questions: avoiding, dominating, bargaining, accommodating, and collaborating. These five strategies reflect different levels of personal desire for assertiveness or cooperation. The higher your score for a strategy, the more likely that is your preferred conflict-handling approach. A lower score suggests you probably do not use that approach.

Dominating Style (my way) reflects a high degree of assertiveness to get ones own way and fulfill ones self-interest. Sum one point for each Mostly True for items 58: _____.

Accommodating Style (your way) reflects a high degree of cooperativeness and a desire to oblige or help others as most important. Sum one point for each Mostly True for items 1316: _____.

Avoiding Style (no way) reflects neither assertiveness nor cooperativeness, which means that conflict is avoided whenever possible. Sum one point for each Mostly True for items 14: _____.

Bargaining Style (half way) reflects a tendency to meet halfway by using a moderate amount of both assertiveness and cooperativeness. Sum one point for each Mostly True for items 912: _____.

Collaborating Style (our way) reflects a high degree of both assertiveness and cooperativeness to meet the needs of both parties. Sum one point for each Mostly True for items 1720: _____.

Questions

1. Which strategy does each group member find easiest to use? Most difficult?

2. How would your answers change if the other party to the conflict was a friend, family member, or co-worker?

3. How do you feel about your approach to handling conflict. What changes would you like to make?