Conflict Response Styles

In week 4, Joyce chats with MaryJean Harris Williams, PhD about conflict management styles. MaryJean teaches Communication Studies at Clackamas Community College. MaryJean recognizes that most people don’t like conflict and have different styles of dealing with conflict. Joyce and MaryJean help us understand the five main conflict management styles: avoiding, accommodating, competing, compromise, and collaboration. Most people prefer one of these conflict management styles over the others. MaryJean explains, using great situational examples, how some of the styles can be useful in certain situations and unhelpful in other situations. She also acknowledges that it’s healthy to develop different conflict styles for different purposes but also encourages us to accept our own preferred communication style. And she gives some advice for how to navigate conflict with others who present with one of these particular communication styles. Arriving at a collaborative solution, using the collaboration style, requires trust and patience but is the “gold star” of conflict resolution. 

 

Resources: 

Conflict Response Styles: A Visual - Joyce Rosenau and MaryJean Harris Williams

Learn more about the OEA Mediation Network