Conflict Is Inevitable

4 Pages 1040 Words

Conflict is inevitable. While it is easy for many individuals to feel that conflict is a destructive event, it may not always have to be viewed as that. Conflict that is not identified, understood and managed effectively can lead to inefficient use of organizational property, tension on the conflicting parties, disagreements within the organization, and misdirection of those affected by the conflict situation. On the other hand, conflict that is effectively managed can result in increased creativity, reorganizing of goals and practices, and a better informed and cohesive work group. Throughout the many views on conflict, one thing remains the same. The conflict management styles are precisely defined into exact categories and each and every one of us fit into one or more of them.
Conflict management styles have a significant role to play in management. After taking a fifteen-question survey, a score is determined as to which style (competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding or accommodating) best suits a person. From my survey, I scored the highest or equal with competing, collaborating, and avoiding and had the lowest score in compromising. In knowing this, it may assist me in handling disagreements constructively, which is an essential leadership skill, as well as an integral component of personal and organizational effectiveness.
We were then asked to analyze how this relates to our very own organization. Instead of outlining how my organization, Tucson Orthopaedic Institute, manages conflict, I took a different approach and decided to outline the very styles and their advantages and disadvantages. I was at a loss being that I have only been with the organization for precisely three (3) weeks now and I am very unclear as to how things are actually run.
People differ in the management of conflict situations. In a given team, extremes may exist where one member is very aggressive, causing small disagreements to escal...