Self-assessment of preferred conflict-handling modes is important. As you read and answer the 30-item conflict survey, think of how you respond to conflict in professional situations. After completing the survey, tally and reflect on your scores for each of the five approaches.
Based on your personality and self-assessment scores, which of the 5 conflict management approaches do you use most often? Which do you use least? What are the strengths and weaknesses of your main approach to conflict resolution?
Describe a situation where you observed or interacted with other stakeholders where there was an opportunity to improve communication, professional civility, or reduce conflict.
Promotes Creativity: Collaborating encourages a creative approach to problem-solving. Instead of just dividing resources, it often leads to innovative solutions that might not have been considered otherwise.
Weaknesses:
Time and Resource Intensive: Collaboration requires significant time, effort, and commitment from all parties. It can be a slow process, making it unsuitable for conflicts that require an immediate decision.
Risk of Inaction: If a mutually agreeable solution cannot be found, the process can stall, leading to a prolonged conflict and no resolution.
Requires High-Level Skills: Effective collaboration depends on strong communication, active listening, and negotiation skills, which not all individuals possess.
A Situation to Improve Communication and Reduce Conflict
In a past role as a project lead, I observed a significant conflict between the marketing department and the engineering team over the launch of a new software feature. The engineering team had built the feature with a set of technical limitations, while the marketing team had promised a more robust, user-friendly version in their promotional materials.
The conflict manifested as professional incivility. Marketing would send terse, accusatory emails about the engineers' "lack of understanding of customer needs," while engineering would respond with equally dismissive messages about marketing's "unrealistic promises and technical ignorance." Communication had broken down completely, and the project was at a standstill.
There was a clear opportunity to improve communication and reduce conflict by moving from an adversarial, blaming model to a collaborative one. Instead of allowing the teams to communicate through combative emails, I should have organized and facilitated a structured meeting. In this meeting, my goal would be to:
Establish a Shared Goal: Begin by reminding both teams that their ultimate goal is to launch a successful product. This reframes the issue from a personal conflict to a shared business challenge.
Sample Answer
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Collaborating Approach
The collaborating approach is a win-win strategy that seeks to satisfy the concerns of all parties involved in a conflict. It is characterized by open communication, a willingness to explore new options, and a focus on finding a mutually beneficial solution.
Strengths:
Sustainable Solutions: By addressing the root causes of a conflict and considering all perspectives, this approach leads to more durable and effective solutions. It's not a temporary fix but a comprehensive resolution.
Builds Trust and Relationships: The process of collaboration requires and builds trust between parties. It shows a commitment to mutual respect and shared success, which strengthens professional relationships for the long term.