My personal go-to style during the reconciliation process is known as collaborating. Collaboration has a fundamental role to play in the process of conflict resolution. The two central tenets of collaborating include the demonstration of courage and consideration. When collaborating, a person must listen to the other side and emphasize the areas of agreement (Adler & Proctor, 2017). The primary objective is to ensure that the two parties understand each other without coercion. Individuals must think creatively and endeavor to solve the issue without concessions. I remember there was a time when my sister and I entered an argument over who should clean the house. Our parents were away and had not left any clear instructions on who should perform the task. On the verge of an escalated argument, we decided to sit down and look for a solution. My sister argued that she had homework to complete while I wanted to visit a friend. After listening to each other's sides, we came up with a plan. We divided the house into sections that each person would clean. Since my commitment was less critical, I decided to take a larger chunk of the chore. We ended up both happy, and the task at hand was complete.
If my preferred style fails, I resort to my back-up strategy in compromising or competing. Conventionally, the collaboration technique of conflict resolution ends with a win-win situation (Adler & Proctor, 2017). However, in compromising, one party wins and loses some while the other also faces a similar fate. Through compromise, individuals reach an agreement by relinquishing some terms and gaining others (Adler & Proctor, 2017). However, sometimes when I am not in the mood of conflict, I use competing as the strategy of choice. When I believe that I am right and have no time for further back and forth, I normally go for the competing style because it guarantees that I win whatever I want. Negotiators using this strategy must, however, have a certain degree of leverage that will increase their chances of winning relative to others. No matter the situation, I cannot use the style of avoidance to solve problems. The style is traditionally used for individuals that do not like conflict (Adler & Proctor, 2017). More importantly, it allows the other party to revenge even without the knowledge of the other party. Therefore, I would not like to use this ambush tactic to solve conflicts with my counterparts.
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The importance of collaboration is that both parties in the conflict feel understood and valued. It is also easier to diffuse the hostility, given that free expression is allowed. Other than fostering understanding, it fosters empathy and creates mutual respect among the concerned parties. Collaboration also sets the precedence for future conflict resolutions (Adler & Proctor, 2017). The persons involved get a sense of shared responsibility, thereby enabling them to resolve issues more appropriately whenever they occur. However, on the negative side, collaboration can take a lot of time. It can also consume immense effort and energy just to arrive at a conclusion. The basis of collaboration is to enable both teams to win (Adler & Proctor, 2017). However, this can be difficult in most conflicts. Therefore, the individuals must go through various scenarios and possible solutions before they arrive at one that guarantees a win-win scenario. When I need a change of style, I consider I several factors including the time taken to achieve a solution and whether or not a mutual point of understanding emerges from the process. I would not wish to make any changes as regards to how I handle conflict in my life. My only concern is to perfect the collaboration technique and ensure that every party when whenever we have a conflict.
Reference
Adler, R. B., & Proctor II, R. F. (2017). Looking out, looking in. Nelson Education.
