5 Conflict Management Strategies

Collaboration works by integrating ideas set out by multiple people. The object is to find a creative solution acceptable to everyone. 

Collaboration, though useful, calls for a significant time commitment not appropriate to all conflicts. 

The compromising strategy typically calls for both sides of a conflict to give up elements of their position in order to establish an acceptable, if not agreeable, solution. 

This strategy prevails most often in conflicts where the parties hold approximately equivalent power. 

Competition operates as a zero-sum game, in which one side wins and other loses. 

Highly assertive personalities often fall back on competition as a conflict management strategy. The competitive strategy works best in a limited number of conflicts, such as emergency situations.