5 Best Conflict Management Techniques For Your Professional Growth

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The Need to Use Conflict Management Techniques in Workplaces

Conflict management is a necessity in today’s workplace, but it is important to understand the fundamentals before discussing the best conflict management techniques. Every person is unique and hence, brings his own unique opinions to the table. So, experts describe conflicts as disagreements between people due to differing opinions, beliefs, personalities, or ideas. Conflicts at workplaces are inevitable. However, the right expression of any conflict plays a crucial part. Anger is the most common way that employees choose to often express conflicts. This is where the right leadership comes into role. Team leaders or managers have the responsibility to use the right way of conflict management to ensure a harmonious work environment.

What is Conflict Management?

Conflict management is the process of identifying the conflicts at the workplace, and managing them in a sensible and fair manner, in a way that would benefit everyone including the organization. The best conflict management techniques reduce the negative impacts of the conflict and multiply the positive impacts. The framework for conflict management is to facilitate meetings with all parties involved, discuss the conflict at hand, identify the problem, and discuss resolutions. However, conflicts can be of different kinds and some may be more sensitive than others. Therefore, it is important to learn the best conflict management techniques that will help one understand how to deal with different problems individually.

The 5 Best Conflict Management Techniques

Experts have done a lot of research on this subject and have narrowed down the best ways to five. Here are the five best conflict management techniques for you to learn and gain an advantage at your workplace.

1. Collaboration Technique for Conflict Management

As the word suggests, all the parties involved in the conflict come together to find a resolution that is approved by all. One can facilitate collaboration by setting up a discussion with the conflicting parties and allowing each one to put their point across. This method is also called the problem-solving and confronting technique. It is one of the best conflict management techniques as it creates a “win-win” situation. The method also helps in ensuring peace and harmony between all parties involved.

Why Collaboration is one of the Best Conflict Management Techniques?

• When the participants listen to each others’ opinions without any judgment, everybody feels valued and heard.
• This ensures that there isn’t any hostility among the participants of the discussion.
• When everybody gets the chance to speak up and put their points across, it fosters empathy, understanding, and mutual respect between them.
• As a result, this strengthens employee relations.
• This kind of technique acts as a base once the team uses it. When similar conflicts arise in the future, the employees know how to come to a conclusion. 

Drawbacks of the Collaboration Technique

• The biggest disadvantage of this technique is that it takes a significant amount of effort, energy, and most importantly, time.
• The involvement of the conflicting parties can cause a great delay in finding a solution.
• In case of silly conflicts, this technique might not be best suitable as it can overcomplicate a trivial matter.
• Negotiations can cause employees a lot of stress.
• Most importantly, in case of not finding a solution approved by all, the technique can fail. 

Best Use of the Collaboration Technique

This technique is ideal when all parties involved are willing to connect for discussion, with the common goal to find the right solution. It is important that everybody is open to listening to others’ opinions. Collaboration is also beneficial when participants in the conflicts come from different backgrounds and experiences. The collaboration technique is one of the best conflict management techniques when the objective is to find the root cause of the conflict. Especially if the employees have been prolonging the conflict for a while.

2. Compromise Technique of Conflict Management

This technique focuses on coming to a solution that neither of the conflicting parties approves of entirely. To explain it better, in this technique, the conflicting parties discuss various solutions for the problem at hand. They negotiate until both parties have gained what they desire the most while giving up on some other things. That is, the solution party satisfies both parties. Unlike the collaborative method, this is a “win-lose” and “win-lose” solution for both parties in conflict. Hence, it is one of the best conflict management techniques.

Why Compromising is one of the Best Conflict Management Techniques?

• Similar to the collaborative technique, employees feel heard and valued during discussions. It is important to make them feel like their opinion is important.
• In the compromise technique, each party ends the discussion feeling at least partially satisfied. It is undoubtedly rewarding that the conflict has resulted profitably for them.
• Compromising is not easy. Hence, when both parties see the other compromising, the discussion ends on a positive note. In fact, it also develops feelings of teamwork amongst the employees.
• The technique results in a quicker solution. Following this, the employees can focus on the bigger picture.

Drawbacks of the Compromise Technique

• Compromise is not always the best way of resolving conflicts. If the compromise can cause more loss to any party, it is not a fair way of handling problems. So, it is necessary to decide if a compromise is suitable for the situation or not.
• People, with a hidden agenda, can easily misuse this method to take advantage of others’ willingness to compromise.
• Often, people agree on compromising but take back feelings of resentment back which can be harmful to the work environment. This can further cause conflicts to arise. To prevent this, people need to be open about their feelings of compromise during negotiations.

Best Use of the Compromise Technique

The compromise technique is one of the best conflict management techniques in situations where the topic is only moderately important. It is foundationally used in circumstances when a resolution has to be reached in a short time. This usually happens when conflicts occur in a small stage of a bigger project. In brief, the technique is used to reach a temporary resolution in a complicated task. Meanwhile, it is also important that all parties hold equal power. This is to ensure that one party doesn’t take advantage of the compromising technique because of more power than the other.

3. Avoidance Technique for Conflict Management

The avoidance technique, as the name implies, believes in avoiding any confrontation to resolve the conflict. This type of technique is most commonly used in workplaces as it comes naturally to us. It is the least cooperative and assertive method of all conflict management styles. The process is to delay or avoid any confrontation until the conflict gets resolved by itself or gets dissolved. This method provides a “lose-lose” situation for both parties. It is also called the Withdrawing technique. This is one of the best conflict management techniques in many situations.

Why avoidance is one of the Best Conflict Management Techniques?

• If the issue is insignificant, confrontation can unnecessarily waste precious time. Whereas avoidance can cause the issue to resolve itself with time.
• It can help in resolving minimal, short-term conflicts.
• The technique can provide the parties with time to gather their thoughts, regain perspective, and prevent them from making rash decisions.
• As a result, the work environment stays positive.

Drawbacks of the Avoidance Technique

• Sometimes, resolving smaller conflicts can help reach the bigger goal. Hence, avoidance can delay that process.
• Avoidance can be perceived as a lack of seriousness or interest in resolving the issue. As a result, it can cause misunderstanding in the team.
• It can also be perceived as passive-aggressiveness.
• At times, avoidance can lead to the bottling up of negative emotions that can cause an outburst in the later stages of work. In addition to that, it can even cause tension in the work environment.
• Avoiding can also hinder creative problem-solving and growth.

Best Use of the Avoidance Technique

The avoidance technique is one of the best conflict management techniques when the issue is very trivial and can get resolved by itself with time. Additionally, it is helpful when both parties involved in the conflict need some time apart to cool down. This time apart can give people enough time to think more rationally and consider the other party’s points too. In such cases, immediate confrontation is not recommended as the issue at hand can easily turn into an unhealthy argument. At the same time, conflicts like these can be resolved by employees more effectively other than the parties involved in the conflict.

4. Competition Technique for Conflict Management

In the competition technique, one of the conflicting parties attempts to win the conflict by asserting power and dominance over the other. This dominating party believes they are right and forces change according to their opinion. It is a “win-lose” situation. Though at first glance, this seems unfair, the method can prove to be very effective in certain situations. As described in the explanation, this technique is also called the Forcing technique. Judging the situations, competing can prove to be one of the best conflict management techniques.

Why competition is one of the Best Conflict Management Techniques?

• The competing style is effective when short-term goals have to be met quickly without wasting much time in discussions.
• This kind of environment provides the winning party lot of confidence and assertion.
• It is a powerful method when the focus is on the goal and outcome than maintaining work relationships.

Drawbacks of the Competition Technique

• The winning party can be judged as being aggressive in their approach.
• This method can easily cause the other party to resent and become hostile toward the winning party.
• The employees might not feel heard and valued since they were not made a part of the discussion.
• As a result, all these factors can harm a healthy work environment.
• Competing can also hinder creative problem-solving and growth.

Best Use of the Competition Technique

The competition technique is one of the best conflict management techniques in circumstances when all the other methods of conflict resolution have failed. On account of this, one party forcing their opinion can accelerate the process of resolution. Accordingly, the team can resume work instead of being stuck on one issue. It is also effective when the decision has to be made quickly without spending too much time in discussions. Often, one party has to seize authority to take difficult and unpopular decisions in the organizations. These decisions can face objection when met with discussions. In such cases too, the competing technique seems like the appropriate step to bring about change.

5. Accommodation Technique for Conflict Management

In the accommodating technique, one of the parties chooses to be the accommodator. That is, this accommodator sets aside their own needs and opinions and agrees to the other party’s opinion. The rest of the team may perceive this as a selfless act done in order to keep the peace of the work environment. The method is also called the Smoothing technique. It results in a “lose-win” situation where the accommodator loses. This is one of the best conflict management techniques in terms of high assertiveness.

Why accommodation is one of the Best Conflict Management Techniques?

• The accommodation technique can resolve small issues quickly.
• It is especially useful in achieving short-term goals.
• Though it is a lose-win situation, the accommodating party still feels responsible for the decision taken as they contributed through goodwill.
•  The accommodating party also earns a good reputation in the workplace.
• This method ensures peace and harmony in the workplace. This, further, ensures a healthy work environment.

Drawbacks of the Accommodation Technique

• There is a high risk of creating a power imbalance.
• The winning party might use this method to their advantage again.
• It is possible that the accommodating can affect the accommodator’s self-esteem and confidence.
• Often, the approval of the winning party’s idea can undermine the contribution of the accommodator.
• This technique is not suitable for bigger problems.

Best Use of the Accommodation Technique

This is the most peaceful method. The accommodation technique is one of the best conflict management techniques when keeping the relationship in healthy shape is more important than the problem at hand. Furthermore, it encourages people to speak up and express their opinions. Sometimes the issue may hold more importance to the other party. In such cases, the accommodating technique is ideal to use. Even when one of the parties wishes to portray a degree of fairness, this method can help them do that.

The above-mentioned techniques are very often used by project management professionals to keep their teams on track. With the increasing demand for project managers, there are many academies online offering good project management courses. They also teach these best conflict management techniques further in detail.

One such course is listed below –

Henry Harvin Academy – PMP Certification Training Course

The Project Management Professionals Certification course by Henry Harvin demonstrates the comprehensive knowledge and skills of project managers. Along with the roles of a project manager, the course also focuses on enhancing strategic and business knowledge. It covers the latest curriculum and practices, and core competencies required by professionals. The strategies taught comprise instigating, managing, executing, and concluding projects in addition to team management. Team management also includes a detailed study of conflict management techniques. The course connects you to a widespread network of experts and organizations globally through teaching the global voice and style of project management.

Duration of the PMP Course –

36 Hours

Fees for the Course –

INR 14900/-

Reasons to choose Henry Harvin Academy to learn more about the Best Conflict Management Techniques –

• Training through 36 hours of live interactive online sessions.
• A facility to work on projects on managing scopes, schedules, etc.
• Assistance with landing great internships for practical exposure.
• Certification of PMP Training Course from the Award-Winning Institute, Henry Harvin, Govt. of India recognized.
• Assistance with landing a job until 1 year post-completion of the course.
• E-learning access with an extensive library of tools, techniques, assessments, etc.
• Regular bootcamps throughout the year.
• Access to hackathons and competitions.
• Gold membership of Henry Harvin Management Academy for a year.

This course is also available in Allahabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Lucknow, and Pune.