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Module 1: Conflict Style Self-Assessment

Joshua F. Allen

College of Business, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

OBLD 310: Mediation, Negotiation, and Conflict Resolution

Carey Hansard

June 2nd, 2025

Module 1: Conflict Style Self-Assessment

Conflict Style Identification

Before completing the surveys required for the Conflict Styles Inventory (CSI), I

based contexts A and B on work associates and intimate people, respectively. This can be

shown in ways I would interact with certain parties during a conflict, since the manner in

which I would treat them can become indicative of how long and strong the relationship

can last. Across contexts A and B, my most dominant and least dominant conflict styles

were Collaboration (16 for A and 17 for B) and Competition (13 for A and 11 for B). These

two approaches did not demonstrate significant variance between their contexts, as I am

equally more collaborative and less competitive in work and personal relationships. This is

usually demonstrated by my high aptitude for working with others to achieve outcomes that

meet the needs of all, while avoiding the preference to win as much as I can at the expense

of the other side. Regardless of work or personal contexts, I believe that collaboration leads

to greater opportunities for finding solutions, while competition limits the scope of

alternatives used for problem-solving.

Personal Development Factors

Past experiences with my family have shaped my overall perspective on managing

conflict, because they share details of how I became more collaborative and less

competitive in general relationships. In my family, the idea of ‘teamwork’ was drilled into

me as a child, since it was believed that finding mutually acceptable solutions is a more

preferred method of negotiating than risking the integrity of the relationship. For instance,

when my Father would disagree with my Mom on topics related to staying at expensive

hotels for shorter durations, he would constantly find different solutions to meet everyone´s
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needs. One of which was by suggesting that we stay at a reputable and cheaper hotel for a

longer scheduled period to save enough money for more trip activities.

Competition was treated as a selfish opportunity to receive benefits for oneself only,

as it reflects a negotiation style that concerns the decision of the outcome over the feelings

of others. For example, if my Mom pushed for her decision in staying at an expensive hotel

without caring what others felt about that outcome, it would be seen as an act of selfishness

and unfairness by opposing parties. Today, my values and beliefs ultimately affect the

collaborative style that I use in professional and personal contexts, since I believe that

teamwork and trust are the most effective tools for reaching greater results.

Effectiveness and Outcomes

A real-life example of this belief can be demonstrated with my experience of

handling conflict within a particular group project during my sophomore year. The reason

for the conflict was mainly due to the disagreements team members were having

concerning the research for the final presentation. Some believed that the information was

accurate and sufficient for submission, while others believed the information lacked the

credibility needed to justify the evidence presented. To solve the situation, I used a

collaborative negotiation approach to find a solution that would work for both sides of the

spectrum. This was evident because this conflict style became crucial for gathering

opposing perspectives together to foster a positive work group, which primarily focused on

a member´s ability to trust one another and to work as a team. In the end, the group

managed to collaborate on a solution that corrected all sources used in the presentation

without adding any extra elements to the project, thus leading to a resolution that met the

needs of all parties involved.

However, one instance in which the collaborative style caused a less favorable

outcome was during a conflict I had with a colleague of mine in a local bakery. In this

situation, he was complaining about the sizes of the loaves of bread that were being

prepared for sale, arguing that they were not ideal for customers in a cost-to-benefit ratio.

On the contrary, I believed that the proportions were suitable for sale, because these sizes

could be produced in larger batches to make up for the accumulated loss used to produce

them. After much back and forth, we cast a vote with other employees to see whose idea

was better, but in the end, everyone was clueless about what decision to choose. When time

was running short, I had to act swiftly and decisively by using my expertise in sales to

make an authoritative decision (competitive style) in selecting my idea as the final decision.

The reason is that there was no time to stop production to make a decision that met the

demands of all, since the collaborative approach would have led the bakery to lose money

from potential customers.

Effectiveness and Outcomes

Even though the collaborative style of conflict is a reasonable approach to many

cases, it still presents some flaws that are detrimental to leadership situations that require

timely and decisive administrative autonomy. This is illustrated by the extra time and

resources this approach takes to find solutions that benefit and satisfy the needs of all

parties involved. To adjust this imperfection, I will adopt a more competitive style to my

approach when a decision needs to be made in a timely manner, or when there is no

available input from outside perspectives.

Additionally, I will need to create a stronger relationship and a more authoritative

communication style with others around me. This strategic approach is important for

fostering an environment of trust and respect, enabling me to take decisive actions based on
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my judgment. By establishing clear expectations and delivering assertive, confident

communication, I can demonstrate my capacity to lead and make informed decisions

without relying on external input. In the near future, for instance, if a decision cannot be

made from other perspectives, I will eventually need to make it on their behalf. Adopting an

authoritative role will be essential for earning their trust and guiding them toward the best

outcome in the quickest way possible, since they will trust my judgment above all else.