Conflict Management Styles
Advantage of being a teddy bear
Accommodating maintains relationships
Disadvantage of being a shark
May breed hostility and resentment toward the person using it.
when maintaining the relationship outweighs other considerations
bear
when minimizing losses in situations where outmatched or losing
bear
when suggestions/changes are not important to the accommodator
bear
when time is limited or when harmony and stability are valued
bear
when all conflicting people are equal in power and have strong interests in different solutions
fox
when important/complex issues leave no clear or simple solutions
fox
when their are no time restraints
fox
Disadvantage of being a teddy bear
giving in may not be productive, bear may be taken advantage of.
Advantage of being an avoiding turtle
may help maintain relationships that would be hurt by conflict resolution.
when learning and trying to merge differing perspectives
owl
when maintaining relationships is important
owl
when peer conflict is involved
owl
when time is not a concern
owl
when trying to gain commitment through consensus building
owl
Advantage of being a fox
relationships are maintained and conflicts are removed.
when conflict involves personal differences that are difficult to change
shark
when conflict resolution is urgent; when decision is vital in crisis
shark
when fostering intimate or supportive relationships is not critical
shark
when others are likely to take advantage of noncompetitive behavior
shark
when unpopular decisions need to be implemented
shark
when confrontation will hurt a working relationship
turtle
when disruption outweighs benefit of conflict resolution
turtle
when gathering information is more important than an immediate decision
turtle
when others can more effectively resolve the conflict
turtle
when the stakes are not high or issue is trivial
turtle
when there is little chance of satisfying your wants
turtle
when time constraints demand a delay
turtle
Disadvantage of being an avoiding turtle.
Conflicts remain unresolved, overuse of the style leads to others walking all over them.
Advantage of being a shark
If a shark's decision is correct, a better decision without compromise can result.
Uses a soothing and accommodating conflict management style with emphasis on human relationships. Ignore their own goals and resolve conflict by giving into other; unassertive behavior and cooperative. Creates and win-lose situation (you lose)
The Accommodating Teddy Bear
Avoiding or withdrawing conflict management style. hide or ignore conflict then resolve it. give up personal goals and display passive behavior creating a lose-lose situation.
The Avoiding Turtle
Collaborating a problem confronting conflict management style valuing their goals and relationships. View conflicts as problems to be resolved finding solutions agreeable to all sides (win-win)
The Collaborating Owl
Compromising conflict management style, concern is for goals and relationships Willing to sacrifice some of their goals while persuading others to give up part of theirs. Compromise is assertive and cooperative result is either win-lose or lose-lose
The Compromising Fox
forcing or competing conflict management style. highly goal-oriented relationships are a low priority aggressive behavior threatening, intimidating, and uncooperative. need to win- creates win-lose situations
The competing Shark
Disadvantage of being a fox
compromise may create a less then ideal outcome and game playing can result.
