In which of the following situations should the avoiding style of conflict management be used

What Is the Accommodating Conflict Management Style and When Should You Use It?

Jul 16, 2021

In which of the following situations should the avoiding style of conflict management be used

The world of construction involves multiple crews, labor-intense work, and tight deadlines, all of which make conflict inevitable. The accommodating conflict management style is just one of five ways to handle conflict and keep your project on track.

The four other conflict-management styles are: 

  • Collaborating style
  • Competing style
  • Compromising style
  • Avoiding style

In this article

  • 1 What is the accommodating conflict style?
  • 2 Example of the accommodating style in practice
  • 3 When should you use the accommodating style? 
  • 4 How to be more assertive 

What is the accommodating conflict style?

The word accommodating derives from the Latin accommodātus,which means “to fit on, apply, make agree, make suitable, adapt.” Once we define accommodating, it makes sense that the accommodating style of conflict resolution is one of unselfishness and low assertiveness. In practice, it means being  willing to set aside your personal interests to find a middle ground with your team. You might use this strategy if the conflict is small and you need to quickly move past an issue. 

Example of the accommodating style in practice

Imagine a large plumbing crew shows up for a project that wasn’t supposed to start until the electricians left. Now both crews are fighting, and you need to step in. You’ve employed these plumbers before and plan to hire them again. So even though they bungled the schedule, you choose to ignore it. You let them proceed and give the electrical crew the rest of the day off. This isn’t the most assertive way to handle the conflict—and you may want to gently nudge the plumbers to check their calendar—but by employing the accommodating style, you’re using a management skill that helps keep the peace.

When should you use the accommodating style? 

The accommodating conflict style is ideal in the following situations: 

  • When keeping the relationship matters more than getting your way. 
  • When you want to smooth over or avoid an argument. 
  • When you’re on a tight deadline. 

As conflict styles go, the accommodating approach should be used sparingly, as it can erode your confidence over time. Having the courage to speak up for yourself and confront conflict head-on, even if it means making unpopular decisions, will earn you more respect than taking the easy way out. 

How to be more assertive 

If you tend to back down in a conflict, it’s also easy to end up feeling like a martyr. That’s why being assertive is so critical—it can help you advocate for your own interests as well as those of your team. 

To improve your assertiveness, try turning to someone you trust. You can discuss a particular issue that’s weighing on you, but also try role playing to get a sense of where you fall short. When it’s your turn to speak up, do you clearly state what you want? Or are you afraid to let everyone down? Knowing what’s holding you back will help you get past it, and you’ll find it gets easier with practice. 

Remember, says Dr. Christine Fiori, program director of the Construction Management Program at Drexel University, being willing to see both sides is helpful when trying to find a solution. But if you feel like you’re always the one to give in, you need to strike a balance. That way, everyone wins. 

MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications, like managing conflict on the jobsite. 

Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills. 

What is avoiding conflict management style?

The Avoiding Style is when you do not satisfy your concerns or the concerns of the other person. This style is low assertiveness and low cooperativeness. The goal is to delay. It is appropriate to use this style when there are issues of low importance, to reduce tensions, or to buy time.

In what situations would the dominating style of conflict management be appropriate?

Dominating can be appropriate in a situation where a decision must be reached immediately and no consensus can be reached. When the Dominating style is used, the person using the Dominating style must ensure that the decision she or he makes is in line with the company's goals and strategies.

When would you use the compromising conflict management style?

Using compromise to manage conflict is appropriate in the following situations: When the project will benefit from both parties sacrificing some of their demands. When grievances have been aired and there's no other option but to compromise. When it's unlikely that everyone involved in the conflict will be satisfied.

Which of the following are the most effective conflict management styles?

A collaborative negotiation style is usually the most effective style for managing conflict and fostering productive long-term relationships; however, different conflict-management styles can be effectively applied to different phases and types of conflict in management.