💡 What Triggers Workplace Conflict?

Conflict between coworkers can arise for many reasons. The TKI Conflict Model by Thomas and Kilmann outlines five common responses to conflict:

• Competition: Pursuing your own concerns at the expense of others often alienates others, which, over time, can damage relationships and make collaboration difficult.
  
• Accommodation: Prioritizing others' concerns over your own may diminish your solutions and ideas, minimizing your impact in the workplace and causing others to overlook your full potential.
  
• Avoidance: Ignoring both your own and others' concerns may feel easier, but unresolved issues can lead to resentment, emotional outbursts, or decisions you may regret.
  
• Collaboration: Allowing time for equal insights from different perspectives is a commitment of all parties towards a mutually satisfactory outcome.
  
• Compromising: Resolving an immediate conflict by addressing the issue directly but with limited depth. The result often leads to future conflict.

Different situations and conflicts often require a mix of responses. There is no single best approach to conflict.  The key to a successful conflict outcome is understanding your natural response and integrating other responses tailored to the situation.

Abusive or bullying conditions are beyond the scope of this Resource. Access student Teamwork resources and Student Health & Wellness resources and services for additional support.

Next, continue on to Activity: Workplace Conflict Resolution