Photo courtesy of Crowders Ridge


Conflict Styles Understanding how we handle conflict


Most of us are prone to address conflict one way. As a leader, when you can learn your conflict style and that of your team members, you can alter your approach to communicate more effectively.


Here are four conflict styles:


1. The Driver: If you press hard to get things done, hate to lose and always want to win, you might have the competing conflict style. The negative side is that these folks can seem domineering or demanding.


2. The Socializer: If you don’t care who wins or loses, you’re interactive, exciting and fun, you may have the socializer conflict style. The negative side of this style is that the socializer can come across as impulsive and irritating.


3. The Relator: If you have an accommodating conflict style, typically your main concern is relationships. You’re stable, supportive and sincere. The negative side is that the relator is slow to respond, slow to decide and sometimes overly sensitive and often avoids conflict at all costs.


4. The Analyzer: If you love to gather information, are careful and conscientious and care about doing things right, you may have the analyzer conflict style. The negative side is that this style can come across as calculating, condescending and passive aggressive, especially when conflict remains unresolved.


There’s one more style we can all aim for. The Collaborator: This is the learned trait required to successfully garner cooperation with others. By taking the strengths of your natural style (1 – 4) and then applying the necessary skills identified to improve on your innate communication weaknesses, you can effectively negotiate and strategically collaborate with just about anyone!


September/October 2024 www.ccca.org 41


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