Interpersonal relationships are not easy at all and in the vast majority of occasions conflicts may appear that must be resolved . When a conflict is not resolved it can become emotionally entrenched and over time, it will be much more difficult to resolve it or heal the emotional wound caused. Therefore, it is important to know the different styles of conflict resolution, so that, in the event that you encounter interpersonal conflicts, you know how to act.

There are several different mechanisms for dealing with conflict. Most people have a specific way of dealing with difficulties and conflicts. For the most favorable outcome, you can consider which conflict resolution style is appropriate for the disagreement in question or for your personality and the way you handle things in your life.

Next, we are going to tell you about the different styles of conflict resolution so that you can choose the one that best suits each moment.

Cooperation

Cooperating means collaborating with others to find a solution that can satisfy everyone. The point of cooperation is to take everyone’s concerns seriously and discuss all aspects of the conflict. This is a good style of conflict resolution to use when you care about the person or people involved and when you feel strongly about your side of the argument. Cooperation can take a long time, so it is not the best option when a decision must be made immediately.

Commitment

If you need to resolve a conflict more quickly, compromising might be a good solution.  With commitment, each person gives up a little so that the final solution is acceptable to all. You won’t completely get away with it if you opt for compromise conflict resolution, so this is a style best used when the answer to the problem is not of the utmost importance to you.

To compete

Competing or directing is like forcing, this means that you insist on getting your way no matter what. If you use this type of conflict resolution too often, the people around you will not want to disagree with you and this will cause them to withdraw from you both physically and emotionally.

In some cases, forcing is necessary; When you are sure that your path is the only safe or effective way to proceed and you must make a decision immediately, you may need to direct the outcome.

Accommodating

Accommodating or harmonizing means allowing the other person to make the decision. This is a good resolution when the outcome of the conflict doesn’t matter much to you, or if you feel that getting your way is not as important as preserving the relationship . However, if you find yourself accommodating others too often, you may feel resentful or feel like you have no say in making decisions.

Avoidance

When you avoid conflict, you allow others to handle you without your participation. If the disagreement does not worry or affect you intensely, it may be best to simply avoid participating in the conflict. Another reason to avoid conflict is if anger is involved; If you or the other person are very angry or have very negative emotions at a certain point, temporarily avoiding the disagreement can allow both of you time to calm down. As with adaptation, it is important not to rely on avoiding conflicts that involve matters that mean a lot to you.

As you can see, they are different ways of resolving conflicts but they all have their pros and cons, so you should choose the style that suits you taking into account the conflict in question and the person with whom you have the conflict.