Conflict is a very common characteristic of human nature. It is very common to have a conflict and there are quite a few methods available to resolve a conflict like accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, compromising, and competing. Among all the methods, collaborating is described as an agreement.
Key Takeaways
- Conflict management allows people to identify various conflicts and then resolve them accordingly
- If a conflict has dependence and interdependence then it is considered a “mixed motive” conflict
- Conflict management increases the performance of the team members as well as the productivity, and engagement
- You can consider a conflicting agreement as a legal contract between two parties to resolve the conflict
What is Conflict Management?
According to Wikipedia –
“Conflict management is the process of limiting the negative aspects of conflict while increasing the positive aspects of the conflict. The aim of conflict management is to enhance learning and group outcomes, including effectiveness or performance in an organizational setting. Properly managed conflict can improve group outcomes.”
So, basically, conflict management allows people to identify various conflicts and then resolve them accordingly. People use various conflict management methods to solve various conflicts sensibly, and efficiently. Conflicts are natural therefore, you have to understand different types of conflicts and then try to neutralize them. This is where you will find conflict management very handy.
Characteristics of Conflict
- Conflict is a dynamic process that takes some time to develop and passes through several stages
- A conflict can be dependence or interdependence
- Interdependence conflict happens when a group of people depends on another group of people
- If a conflict has dependence and interdependence then it is considered a “mixed motive” conflict
- In most cases, conflicts are mixed motives, and both parties have simultaneous motives that create the conflict
- Conflicts are a personal and subjective experience therefore, the same conflicts can be managed in various ways
- Conflict concerns cognitive and affective tension among both parties
- Conflict can be unidirectional; while some people enjoy conflicts, others find it irritable
Importance of Conflict Management
Conflict management is very important because you can’t always have a conflict between the team members of an organization. A conflict can be very damaging for a company. A conflict creates unhealthy team dynamics and hampers the progress of the company. So, conflict management will help to –
- Increase the performance of the team members as well as the productivity, and engagement
- Improve the leadership skills of the team members
- Increase the innovation and creativity skills of the team member
- Increase the trust between two groups of people with different points of view
- Improve the employee retention rates
- Reduce the stress and absence of the employees
- Increase workplace communication and collaboration
Different Types of Conflict Management Methods
I have already mentioned above that conflict management has 5 methods, they are –
- Accommodating
- Avoiding
- Compromising
- Collaborating
- Competing
The below table will give you a clear idea about all these conflict management methods.
| Name of the Method | Description | Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Accommodating | o Here, you have to ignore your own needs or desires and agree with the others. o Basically, you are putting other people’s concerns before yours. o If you care less about the issue then you can apply this method. | You can easily solve the conflict It requires less time to solve the conflict You can restore peace and harmony without too much negotiating Ensure positive working relationships between team members You will be able goodwill and appreciation from others to earn | This type of method creates power imbalances You have to sacrifice your own wishes and needs It can lessen your confidence and contributions You won’t be able to solve more complex problems or conflicts |
| Avoiding | o This type of method is used to completely evade the conflict. o You have to avoid your needs or desires of yours as well as others. o You have to continuously postpone or completely dodge the conflict. o If the conflict is trivial then this is the right method to use | One key advantage of avoiding stress is, that it will reduce the stress. This method saves time and reduces risks. | It won’t help you get a long-time result. When you try to avoid conflict, it can increase the festering tension. It can result in a blow-out argument. |
| Compromising | o This type of method tries to find a solution that is a win-win for both parties. o You have to identify a middle ground between all the arguments which will make both parties satisfied. o If the main target of a conflict is to reach a suitable solution then this will be the best conflict management method. | This type of method will help you solve the conflict quickly. If you can’t find the proper solution then this method will help find you a temporary solution. You can easily lower the levels of tension and stress related to the conflict. | Applying this method to manage a conflict will create concern among others. This method limits the number of possible creative solutions. Here, you have to be always fair and equitable which might create new conflict. |
| Collaborating | o This type of method always tries to find a solution to the conflict. o You will always be able to make both parties happy. o If a conflict has various perspectives then you will find this method very handy. | Here, both parties will feel heard and respected. It will create mutual respect for each other. There will be an increase in the productivity of the company | This type of method takes lots of time to solve a conflict. You will have to spend lots of money, energy, and effort to achieve a resolution. You might have to resolve multiple conflicts before you can solve the main conflict. |
| Competing | In this method, you have to refuse all the possible solutions to see how the other party reacts. Here, you have to stand firm on your opinion, no matter what the situation is. This type of method is best when you are trying to defend your honesty, morality, or rights. | This type of method will prevent you from making a terrible, opposing decision. If the conflict is difficult to solve then you can use this method. This type of method will help you make the decision quickly. | This method is considered aggressive, confrontational, and uncooperative. Applying this method can ruin relationships. Misuse of this method could lead to more conflicts. |
FAQs about Which Conflict Management Method is Described as an Agreement
What is a conflicting agreement?
You can consider a conflicting agreement as a legal contract between two parties to resolve the conflict. Basically, it is a document that outlines the relationship between two groups of people. This type of document protects one party when another party brakes the conflict agreement.
What are 3 strategies to use when resolving conflict in relationships?
It is very common to have conflict in a relationship. But there are many ways available to resolve a conflict in a healthy way. Three popular strategies are –
- Establish boundaries
- Find the real issue
- Agree to disagree
What are the different types of conflict?
There are three types of conflicts. They are –
- Task Conflict
- Relationship Conflict
- Value Conflict
Who developed the 5 conflict management styles?
Kenneth Thomas and Ralph Kilmann developed the 5 conflict management styles. They developed these styles in the 1970s. Both Kenneth Thomas and Ralph Kilmann were psychologists.
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