Thomas Kilmann Styles of Approaching Conflict

TL;DR

The Thomas Kilmann model explains conflict through five styles, avoidance, competition, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration, classified by assertiveness and cooperativeness. Assertiveness means trying to satisfy your own concerns, while cooperativeness means trying to satisfy others’ concerns. Understanding these differences can help you select a style suited to the situation, so read on to compare how each approach handles competing needs.

Transcript

let's take a look at the thomas kilmann styles of conflict there's no doubt that people have different ways of handling conflict in that these different styles affect the outcomes of conflict a conflict style is defined as a pattern response or behavior that people use when approaching conflict one of the most widely recognized models of conflict s... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ People have different conflict styles that can significantly impact conflict outcomes.
• ⚾ The Thomas Kilmann model classifies conflict styles based on assertiveness and cooperativeness.
• ❓ Avoidance, competition, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration are the five conflict styles identified by the Thomas Kilmann model.
• 🎚️ Avoidance and competition are uncooperative styles, while accommodation and compromise involve varying levels of cooperativeness.
• 🥳 Collaboration is the conflict style that aims for a positive settlement while considering the concerns of both parties.
• 🍉 Each conflict style has its own characteristics in terms of assertiveness and cooperativeness.
• 🧑‍🏭 The choice of conflict style depends on past experiences and situational factors.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the Thomas Kilmann model, and how does it classify conflict styles?

The Thomas Kilmann model identifies five conflict styles: avoidance, competition, accommodation, compromise, and collaboration. It classifies them according to how much assertiveness and cooperativeness a person shows when confronting conflict.

Q: What do assertiveness and cooperativeness mean in the Thomas Kilmann model?

Assertiveness refers to attempts to satisfy your own concerns. Cooperativeness represents attempts to satisfy the concerns of others.

Q: How does the avoidance style approach conflict?

Avoidance is both unassertive and uncooperative. People who favor it tend to remain passive and ignore conflict situations instead of confronting them directly, pursuing neither their own interests nor those of others.

Q: What characterizes the competitive conflict style?

Competition combines high assertiveness with low cooperativeness. Competitive individuals pursue their own goals without assisting others in reaching theirs, making it a win-lose strategy.

Q: How does accommodation differ from avoidance?

Accommodation is unassertive but cooperative, whereas avoidance is both unassertive and uncooperative. Accommodating individuals closely attend to others’ needs while ignoring their own.

Q: What does compromise involve?

Compromise falls halfway between competition and accommodation. It involves a degree of both assertiveness and cooperativeness, with compromisers attending to their own concerns as well as those of others.

Q: How does collaboration resolve conflict?

Collaboration requires both assertiveness and cooperation. Both parties seek a positive settlement, fully consider each other’s concerns without suppressing their own, and continue until each side is reasonably satisfied and can support the solution.

Q: Why might someone rely more heavily on one conflict style?

Past experiences or situational factors can lead people to favor one conflict style over others. Understanding all five styles can help a person select the approach most appropriate to the demands of a particular situation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The Thomas Kilmann model classifies conflict styles based on assertiveness and cooperativeness: avoidance (low on both), competition (high assertiveness, low cooperativeness), accommodation (low assertiveness, high cooperativeness), compromise (moderate on both), and collaboration (high on both).

• Avoiders of conflict ignore conflict situations, while competitors pursue their own goals without considering others. Accommodation focuses on meeting the needs of others while compromising involves finding a middle ground. Collaboration aims for a positive settlement that satisfies both parties.