The purpose of a conflict style quiz is to help you identify and understand your preferred style of conflict resolution. Many persons make the mistake of treating the process of interpretation of results of the quiz as a conflict in itself. Hence, you should keep the following points in mind when participating in such a quiz.
There is no universally perfect method of resolution of conflicts. No two conflicts are the same and, consequently, not single method of resolution will apply to all types of conflicts. A small disagreement between good friends may not need a competing approach where it is necessary for one person to win and the other to lose.
On the other hand, a conciliatory approach may not work when the other person is interested in continuing the conflict just for the sake of doing so. In such a scenario, trying to get along with the other person may cause more harm than good to yourself and your team in the long run.
The search for the best method of conflict solution can be a frustrating affair because it ultimately depends on a judgment call based on the specific conflict in question. You may begin with an aggressive approach but may have to calm down as people become more conciliatory. If you have authority, then a cooperative approach may be preferable to trying to impose the solution on the basis of your position alone.
Secondly, you cannot have the different styles of conflict resolution divided into watertight compartments. You may have certain traits that focus on competitiveness while other aspects may tilt you towards a conciliatory or harmonious approach. No person is absolutely good or absolutely bad. So, you must be prepared for certain gray areas where your methods fall in different categories simultaneously.
Thirdly, you should focus on using these quizzes to improve yourself to the maximum extent possible. Many persons make the mistake of being excessively self-critical. Your desire to improve does not mean you should always find faults with yourself. Constantly focusing on improving yourself may, sooner or later, leave you exhausted and sick of trying to be somebody better.
Finally, make sure you look beyond the quiz and focus on the discussions where participants exchange views about the results as well. How people justify their approach and criticize methods of others may be a good indicator of how not to resolve conflicts. If you adopt such an approach, then you will quickly realize that the quiz is merely the first step towards self-improvement when it comes to improving your ability to resolve conflicts effectively.
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