It’s a serious question. Conflict is a part of life, and we all must deal with it at some point in our lives. However, the way we handle conflict can have a significant impact on the outcome of the situation.
There are the five different styles of conflict resolution, and each one has its strengths and struggles. I’ve included an infographic as a quick reference for you to see how you, or others are dealing with conflict in their lives. Which brings me back to the question above. Which of these animals are you?
The Turtle: Avoidance
- The strength of this style is that the person can easily look past conflicts.
- The struggle with this style is the tendency to minimize, deny, and avoid conflict altogether.
The Teddy Bear: Accommodation
- The strength of this style is how likeable and lovable this person is in most situations. They want and need harmony.
- The struggle of this style is that a teddy bear may be taken advantage of, becoming a doormat.
The Shark: Competition
- The strength of this style is the ability to be strong, courageous, and bring a conflict out in the open quickly.
- The struggle is not becoming too pushy, tactless, and hurting people’s feelings.
The Fox: Compromise
- Their strength is communication and a willingness to find win-win or lose-lose compromises.
- The struggle is not to fall into deceptiveness and manipulation.
The Owl: Collaboration
- The strength of this style is integrity. Owls can build trust, respect, and deeper relationships.
- The struggle is that owls must have two willing parties to collaborate.
It’s essential to reflect on your conflict management style and identify your strengths and struggles. Understanding your style can help you manage conflicts more effectively.
Beyond your resolution styles, your CliftonStrengths talents can enhance your ability to resolve conflict. Ask yourself first, “Which resolution style am I?” Then ask, “Which of my strengths makes that style most effective?”
Determine your conflict resolution style with a tool in my free Workplace Solutions Toolkit.
If you need more insight into conflict resolution and strengths, contact me at Ask Brent Anything.
