Discussion Post: How Do You Feel About Conflict?
Reactions to conflict are as varied as the number of people involved in conflict. Several things influence how we view conflict, and not all of them are consistently addressed in the conflict literature, though many are. As you respond to the following questions, think about how much power you had in a previous conflict situation. Does your attitude change based on whether you are the person with more or less power in a conflict situation?
Another strong influence on conflict is how we view the person or persons with whom we are engaging in conflict. The more we like them, the more likely we are to work toward a win-win or favorable solution for both of us. On the other hand, the less we admire the person with whom we have conflict, the more apt we are to try to push our solution(s) onto them. How is this true for you?
Which is stronger in guiding your approach to conflict-the desire to be right, or the desire to maintain good relationships? What about a conflict situation might change this preference? When is winning more important than coming up with the best solution possible? How do you enter conflict differently when you initiate it versus when someone else initiates it with you? Think about how all of these things influence you as you enter into a conflict situation.
YouTube Videos:
"Communication in Conflict"
"Managing Conflict Through Communication"
Task
Post a cohesive response based on your analysis of the Learning Resources and your professional experience. Be sure to discuss the following:
a) Free associate for just a moment. When you hear the word conflict, what are the top five words that come to mind? List the top five words that you thought of and discuss where the five words you identified fit within your definition of conflict. Analyze your definition of conflict as it relates to the definition discussed in the text.
b) How do you view organizational conflict-more positively or more negatively? How do you know when conflict is an opportunity to engage more with people and when it is an opportunity to disengage from people?
The response should include a reference list. One-inch margins, Using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, double-space and APA style of writing and citations.