Conflict Management Styles Questionnaire

Please answer based on how you behave, rather than on how you think you should behave. Circle only one of the options for each question, depending on how often you adopt one of those behaviors.

There are no wrong or right answers. This questionnaire is just designed to help you learn about your favorite conflict management style.

1. I discuss issues with others to try to find solutions that meet everyone’s needs.

0 - Never

1- Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

2. I try to convince the other person of the merits of my position.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

3. If it makes the other person happy, I let them maintain their views.

0-Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

4. I give up some points in exchange for others.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

5. I try to see conflicts from both sides. What do I need? What does the other person need? What are the issues involved?

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

6. I try to postpone the issue until I have had some time to think it over.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

7. I try to find an intermediate position between theirs and mine.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

8. I sacrifice my own wishes for the wishes of the other person.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

9. I attempt to get all concerns and issues immediately out in the open.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

10. I try to do what is necessary to avoid tensions.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

11. I find conflicts challenging and exhilarating. I enjoy the battle of wits that usually follows.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

12. I avoid hard feelings by keeping my disagreements with others to myself.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

13. I try not to hurt others’ feelings.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

14. I try to win my position.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

15. I try to find a compromise solution.

0 - Never

1 - Rarely

2 - Sometimes

3 - Often

4 - Always

Competing

For people who prefer the competing style, achieving their goals is more important than maintaining a relationship. They try to win at all costs and they enjoy conflict and the challenges associated with it.

Avoiding Style

Those who prefer the avoiding style just hate conflict. They find conflict stressful and try to avoid it at all costs. They do not care about achieving their goals, nor about maintaining strong relationships, as long as they can avoid being in conflict with someone.

Compromising Style

People who prefer the compromising style are moderately concerned with achieving their goals and maintaining relationships. They are willing to meet the other person halfway. So, they are happy to give up part of their goals, if the other person also gives some of their goals up.

Collaborating Style

Those who prefer to adopt the collaborating style strive to achieve a win-win solution for both the parties involved. They highly value both the goals and the relationships to the same extent. They like to keep an open discussion with the other party and see the conflict as a problem that needs to be solved by both parties cooperating together.

Accommodating Style

People who prefer the accommodating style value the relationships with others more than they value achieving goals. They are willing to give up their goals if this means making other people happy and keep the relationship going.