What is Collaborative Conflict Management?
The greatest problem to collaboration based conflict management is that it is based on a oxymoron in and of itself.
Collaboration, by definition is the polar opposite of conflict. It is rather likes having a wet dryness approach to conflict management.
Collaboration occurs when a group of equally vested parties interact in a process of shared rules, norms and structures to resolve an issue in which they are all vested.
One of the mode predominant models built around this conflict management style is Win Win Conflict Management. In this approach problems are solved in ways that go beyond fair. This process is possible only when both (all?) parties are completely open and honest in expressing and prioritizing their desired outcomes. Theoretically, in this way both (all?) parties get what they want and negative relationships are minimized.
“Let’s work this out so we can both get what we want.”
This approach is most useful in situations in which their is a mutual trust between all parties. The investment of time and energy is worthwhile when maintaining positive relationships is paramount. This is also useful when consensus building is necessary to insure continued positive interaction. It is also a strategy worthy of consideration when time constraints are not an issue.
Unfortunately, it is an approach which consumes a tremendous amount of time and energy. And all involved parties must be completely open and honest.
Collaborating
Competing
Avoiding
Harmonizing
Compromising