This document provides tips and guidelines for effectively managing and resolving conflicts within teams. It emphasizes the importance of open communication, listening without judgment, documenting actions, and involving all parties to identify issues and work towards solutions. Five common styles of conflict management are described: competitive, collaborative, compromising, accommodating, and avoiding, with collaborative style seen as most effective for cooperation.

1. Conflict Management/Resolution
"The better able team members are to
engage, speak, listen, hear, interpret,
and respond constructively, the more
likely their teams are to leverage
conflict rather than be leveled by it”
-Runde & Flanagan

2. Tips to Avoid Conflict
• Do not work off of assumptions
• Use emotional intelligence
• Do not attack, use a neutral tone
▫ Speak about feelings
▫ Do not point fingers or accuse
• Do not be aggressive
• Provide constructive feedback
• Document all actions

3. Resolving Team Conflicts
• YOU are responsible for resolving team conflict
• Identify all important aspects of the situation
• Get feedback from all parties involved
• Schedule a meeting with both parties
• Keep the meeting under the control
• Ask questions if team members are not being
forthcoming

4. Guidelines for Conflict Resolution
Meeting
1. Team members should agree to be honest
about the facts
2. Team members should agree to be open about
their feelings
3. Everyone should have equal opportunity to be
heard

5. Guidelines for Conflict Resolution
Meeting
4. Team members should listen without
argument and be respectful
5. Team members should substantiate
information with facts
6. End with “Where do we go from here” and
solutions

6. 5 Styles of Conflict Management
Similar to Leadership Styles, each individual leans
toward one of five Conflict Management styles:
1. Competitive
2. Collaborative
3. Compromising
4. Accommodating
5. Avoiding
-Thomas & Kilmann

7. Competitive
• Typically know what they want
• Can lead to power distances
• Can make other employees feel resentful

8. Collaborative
• Act as the mediator
• Typically try to accommodate the needs of all
parties
• Cooperate effectively
• Acknowledge team member importance

9. Compromising
• Tries to satisfy everyone
• Everyone gets a little, but also gives up a little

10. Accommodating
• People pleasers
• Typically gives into the needs of others at their
own personal expense
• Can be accommodating to a fault

11. Avoiding
• Typically a person chooses not to deal with the
issue and avoids it
• Can lead to bigger problems