Understanding ourselves is essential for recognizing the impact we have on those around us, as well as our personal behavior preferences. Do you tend to be an assertive problem solver, or do you adopt a more confrontational stance? There are five fundamental approaches to conflict resolution: avoiding, accommodating, competing, compromising, and collaborating. Let’s take a closer look at each of these styles.

The Questionnaire

Complete the following questionnaire, which comes from organizational behavior work by John Schermerhorn, James Hunt, and Richard Osborn. For each statement, think about how likely you are to respond in the suggested ways. (To help you choose an answer, think about situations when what you wanted was different from what the other person wanted.) Check the rating that best corresponds to your response. (Leave the Points column blank for now.)

 

Very Unlikely

Unlikely

Likely

Very Likely

Points

1.

I am usually persistent in pursuing my goals.

 

 

 

 

 

2.

I try to win people over to my position.

 

 

 

 

 

3.

I give up some points in exchange for others.

 

 

 

 

 

4.

I feel that differences are not always worth worrying about.

 

 

 

 

 

5.

I try to find a position that is intermediate between theirs and mine.

 

 

 

 

 

6.

In negotiations, I try to be considerate of the other person’s wishes.

 

 

 

 

 

7.

I try to demonstrate logic and benefit to my position.

 

 

 

 

 

8.

I always encourage a direct discussion of the problem.

 

 

 

 

 

9.

I try to find a fair combination of gains and losses for both of us.

 

 

 

 

 

10.

I attempt to immediately work through our differences.

 

 

 

 

 

11.

I try to avoid creating unpleasantness for myself.

 

 

 

 

 

12.

I might try to soothe the other’s feelings and preserve our relationship.

 

 

 

 

 

13.

I attempt to get all concerns and issues immediately out in the open.

 

 

 

 

 

14.

I avoid taking positions that would create controversy.

 

 

 

 

 

15.

I try not to hurt others’ feelings.

 

 

 

 

 

Scoring

Assign points to each response as follows in the Points column of the questionnaire:

  • Very Unlikely: 1
  • Unlikely: 2
  • Likely: 3
  • Very Likely: 4

Score Sheet

Now, transfer your scores for each question to the appropriate box below.

 

Item 1

Item 2

Item 7

Total

Authoritative/Competitive

 

 

 

 

 

Item 8

Item 10

Item 13

Total

Collaborative/Problem Solving

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3

Item 5

Item 9

Total

Compromising

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4

Item 11

Item 14

Total

Avoiding

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6

Item 12

Item 15

Total

Accommodating/Smoothing

 

 

 

 

The maximum score in each category is 12 points

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