There are many ways one can approach conflict. • Decisions regarding conflict are based on the importance of issues and/or relationships. • The way in which one handles conflict will directly affect the effectiveness of the conflict’s outcome. How comfortable are you with the conflict?

Conflict Styles: How people respond to conflict.

* Avoiding--Issue and relationship both are insignificant.

• Accommodating--Relationship is more important than the issue.

• Forcing--The issue is more important than the relationship.

• Compromising--Cooperation is important (give a little, get a little).

• Collaborating--Relationship and issue are both important (takes more time)

When analyzing your conflict style in a particular situation, ask the following questions: • How is this conflict style working for you? • What are your needs, and are they being met? • What outcome could using this conflict style lead to? • Are you satisfied with the outcome of this conflict style? • Are there situations in which you change your conflict style? • Are conflict styles situational? • What would it take for you to change your conflict style? • How would using a new style affect the outcome?

Clinched Fist Activity (find someone at home - parents, siblings or a friend)

With a partner, one of you clench your fist. The other try to figure out a way to unclench their fist. You have 30 seconds...

Processing • What happened? • How did you get the person to unclench his or her fist? • What worked? What didn’t work? • What did you do to overcome the challenges?

Conflict Outcomes • Win-Win • Win-Lose • Lose-Win • Lose-Lose