When have you withdrawn from or avoided a conflict?

Leading People
Written By Stacia Aylward

The Challenge

The Project Management Institute says that there are five basic approaches for handling conflicts. The first is withdrawing from or avoiding the situation entirely. Think about a time you used this approach to deal with a conflict. How did it work out? 

Why do this?

Each of the five approaches is effective when used in the right context--the trick is in knowing which one to use. (By the way, if you noticed that this challenge is similar to another one you've done, you're right. It is! We developed a whole series on conflict management, and this challenge is part of that series.)

Being able to choose the correct approach for a given situation will help you handle conflicts with confidence and grace.

What’s next?

If you could go back and do it all over again, would you choose a different approach for this conflict? Your choices are: 1) withdraw/avoid, 2) smooth/accommodate, 3) compromise/reconcile, 4) force/direct, or 5) collaborate/problem solve.

Stacia Aylward

Zelos CEO Stacia C. Aylward is an executive leader and lifelong learner with broad professional experience in envisioning and leading programs, projects and teams; facilitating and teaching adults; conducting research; and developing client relationships using proven methodologies in many government and technical fields, including economics, education, healthcare, housing, non-profit governance, IT and law. Stacia holds a master’s degree in Communication and Information, a bachelor’s degree in English, a Six Sigma black belt certification, and a Coach Approach to Leadership credential.

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