Effective Communication: Conflict

If you decide to resolve a conflict, make a conscious choice whether you will accommodate, compromise, overpower, or collaborate. 

Here is a list of situations that will help you in making a decision.

Accommodate when:

• The issue is important to them and relatively unimportant to you;

• You cannot win or are wrong;

• You want to bank a favor for later recall;

• You want to shift responsibility for the outcome to the other person;

• Harmony is more important than the issue.

Compromise with the other person's wants and plans when:

• The issue is important to both of you but not worth fighting to the bitter end;

• The situation is temporary and will lead to a quick fix for the immediate problem;

• You don't have time to haggle but need to meet some of your goals.

Over power to get your way when:

• The situation is an emergency and you have to act quickly;

• You have to play the part of "statesman" and enforce unpopular principles or take unpopular actions.

Collaborate to resolve issues when:

• The relationship is long-term and the situation will be recurring;

• Both goals are too important to compromise;

• You need buy-in from both people on the outcome.