Taylor Kirn, a human resources professional with Cape Girardeau, Missouri-based Delta Companies, talked about handling conflict to more than 100 businesswomen recently. Her company focuses on highway construction and asphalt production.
One of the five conflict resolution approaches--evasion--is not recommended as it will make a bad situation even worse, Kim said. Surrender also is not a good approach “because it puts you in a win-lose situation and you don't want to be in that,” she said. The third approach--competition--“is not a situation you want to put yourself in because it’s another win-lose situation.”
The forth approach--compromise--is not bad and gives employees the opportunity to negotiate in order to come to an agreement. The fifth approach--collaboration--is optimal. “When you can get employees to work together to come to a conclusion, that can turn into a legitimate win-win situation,” Kim said.