Conflict Management Styles Assessment
Please CIRCLE ONE response that best describes you. Be honest, this survey is designed to help you learn about your conflict management style. There are no right or wrong answers!
Name Date
| Rarely | Sometimes | Often | Always |
1. I discuss issues with others to try to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
2. I try to negotiate and use a give-and-take approach to problem situations. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
3. I try to meet the expectations of others. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
4. I would argue my case and insist on the advantages of my point of view. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
5. When there is a disagreement, I gather as much information as I can and keep the lines of communication open. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
6. When I find myself in an argument, I usually say very little and try to leave as soon as possible. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
7. I try to see conflicts from both sides. What do I need? What does the other person need? What are the issues involved? | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
8. I prefer to compromise when solving problems and just move on. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
9. I find conflicts exhilarating; I enjoy the battle of wits that usually follows. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
10. Being in a disagreement with other people makes me feel uncomfortable and anxious. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
11. I try to meet the wishes of my friends and family. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
12. I can figure out what needs to be done and I am usually right. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
13. To break deadlocks, I would meet people halfway. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
14. I may not get what I want but it’s a small price to pay for keeping the peace. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
15. I avoid hard feelings by keeping my disagreements with others to myself. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
Source: Reginald (Reg) Adkins, Ph.D., Elemental Truths. http://elementaltruths.blogspot.com/2006/11/conflict- management-quiz.html
Scoring the Conflict Management Styles Assessment
As stated, the 15 statements correspond to the five conflict management styles. To find your most preferred style, total the points for each style. The style with the highest score indicates your most commonly used strategy. The one with the lowest score indicates your least preferred strategy. However, all styles have pros and cons, so it’s important that you can use the most appropriate style for each conflict situation.
Style Corresponding Statements: Total: _____________
Compromising: (questions 1, 5, 7) _______
Competing: (questions 4, 9, 12):
Avoiding: (questions 6, 10, 15):_______
Accommodating: (questions 3, 11, 14):_______
Compromising: (questions 2, 8, 13)______
My preferred conflict management style is:
_____________________________________________________________
The conflict management style I would like to work on is:
_____________________________________________________________
How can I practice this conflict management style?
____________________________________________
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Brief Descriptions of the Five Conflict Management Styles
Keep in mind that one style of conflict management is not necessarily better than another; each style has pros and cons, and each can be useful depending on the situation. This assessment is intended to help you identify your typical response to conflict, with the goal that when you encounter future conflicts, you will be aware of not only your instinctive reaction, but also the pros and cons of that reaction for the specific situation. Furthermore, you will also be aware of the other styles of conflict management that you could draw on to resolve the situation, if one of the other styles is more appropriate for the current situation.
 Owl Collaborating
Owls see conflicts as a means of improving relationships by reducing tensions between two persons. They try to begin a discussion that identifies the conflict as a problem, and strive to resolve tensions and maintain the relationship by seeking solutions that satisfy both themselves and the other person. |
 Turtle AvoidingTurtles tend to value avoiding confrontation more than either their goals or relationships. They often find it easier to withdraw from a conflict than to face it. This might even include completely giving up relationships or goals that are associated with the conflict. |
 Shark CompetingSharks typically value their goals over relationships, meaning that if forced to choose, they would seek to achieve their goals even at the cost of the relationship involved. Sharks are typically more concerned with accomplishing their goals than with being liked by others. They might try to force opponents to accept their solution to the conflict by overpowering them. |
 Teddy Bear AccommodatingTeddy Bears typically value relationships over their own goals; if forced to choose, Teddy Bears will often sacrifice their goals in order to maintain relationships. Teddy Bears generally want to be liked by others, and prefer to avoid conflict because they believe addressing it will damage relationships. Teddy Bears try to smooth over conflict to prevent damage to the relationship. |
Foxes are moderately concerned with both their goals and their relationships with others. Foxes typically seek a compromise; they give up part of their goals and persuade the other person in a conflict to give up part of their goals. They seek a conflict solution in which both sides gain something; the middle ground between two extreme positions. They are willing to sacrifice part of their goals in order to find agreement for the common good. |
Adapted from: Conflict Management Styles Descriptions. Docstoc, http://img.docstoccdn.com/thumb/orig/47081621.png
