After reviewing the five different types of Conflict Management Styles give an example of when you have experienced one of the styles within a group. How did it make you feel? What was your attitude towards the leader? What would you have done differently as a team member? Avoiding: very little interest in the group or the goals, little interest in collaboration and not interested in negotiating. Sometimes called the "ostrich with its head in the sand" Accommodating style: results in maximum cooperation but usually is the result of low self-interest and minimal realization. Competitive style: a style that could occur that would lead to little or no results for the team or anyone involved. Compromising style: occurs between groups, team members or organizations. Negotiation skills are to be used to try to create results and communication. Collaborative style: this style maximizes everyone personal interest and communications. ADDTIONAL Support Info: Most teams will have some type of conflict during the duration that the team is in place. The conflict can take place within the group as a whole or between specific team members. The conflict may be a small disagreement or a screaming match or team members walking out on the project. No matter what level of conflict occurs strategies need to be in place to manage the individuals and/or team. Dealing with Conflict Research indicates that there are two dimensions when dealing with conflict cooperativeness and assertiveness. Cooperativeness means that an individual/team member concerns are higher for others/team members than themselves and assertiveness deals with individuals that are focused only on themselves. Within the dimensions there are five approaches that include the following: Collaborating - assertive and cooperative, looking for a win-win situation. Competing - assertive and uncooperative, also called dominating Accommodating - unassertive and cooperative, also called obliging Avoiding - unassertive and uncooperative, also called inaction or the ignoring style Compromising - mid-range on both assertiveness and cooperativeness Team members will approach conflict from one of the dimensions. Leaders can provide training to team members so they recognize and deal with different team members approaches and solve conflict without the leader's intervention. If the team cannot resolve a conflict leadership must step in and decide what action/s that needs to be taken. Remember, most individuals on a team want to avoid conflict and may settle on issues when they don't fully agree. This will have a long term effect on the team and individuals and if not resolved the goals created will not be as effective for the organization as it could be. Leaders Dealing with Team Conflict Leading a team can be difficult at times due to conflicts within the team or between team members. Your ability to be able to analyze team conflicts and/or team individual conflicts will be invaluable to your succ.