The person who can get through life without conflict has yet to be born. Conflicts in communication can result from off-hand remarks, deliberate attacks or genuine misunderstandings. The result can be misery, stress, depression, loss of sleep, etc, all of which may serve to escalate already tense and often unnecessary situations. Despite best efforts, and maybe for no fault of your own, breakdowns in communication will happen. The strategy you choose to remedy the situation is key to conflict resolution.
Styles That Don't Properly Resolve Conflict
Confrontation
This typically involves the demand of an apology from the other person
or people involved and perhaps some form of compensation or redress for
perceived wrongs. This approach to resolution is used by people who have
high concerns for themselves and low concerns for others.
Avoidance
People who refuse to acknowledge a problem exists will use avoidance.
Although they prefer to think this way they usually reduce their
interaction with the 'problem person'. Again, low concern for the other person
and a wish to avoid any further conflict is often the motivation for
this approach even though it may ultimately stir up more resentment.
Accommodation
Regardless of who is right or wrong some people are so keen to end
conflict that they will apologize and even accept blame. This person has
low concern for themselves and high concern for others.
More Effective Conflict Resolution Styles
Compromise
This is a form of negotiation in which both parties agree some form of
resolution. Sometimes this will lead to an amicable outcome but it
might lead to an uneasy truce in which both parties save face but on the
basis of agreeing to disagree.
Collaborate
An approach which treats the need to repair the breakdown as an issue
both parties need to solve together. This is probably the best approach
for longer term resolution and one in which both parties have a vested
interest. The approach may need to combine several elements such
as:
Article sources: Guirdham, M (1990) Interpersonal Skills at Work. Prentice Hall International.