Self-assessment 5: Conflict
1. Conflict is typically associated with a negative context in our society. As we discussed in Chapter 14, conflict is something that organizations should embrace and not avoid. However, the typical response by most individuals is to have a negative/defensive response to conflict which creates a significant barrier to implementing functional conflict in organizations. For this exercise, address your own conflict style. Of the 9 defense mechanisms that we discussed in class (aggressive, compromise, withdrawal), discuss what your typical defense mechanism(s) are. Do you actively seek conflict in your life or try to avoid it? Why?
2. As a manager/leader, what do you feel the best way will be to create an environment of functional conflict? How would you accomplish that? Do you feel most of the conflict you deal with in your career will be task, relationship or process conflict? How do you guard from these types of conflicts becoming dysfunctional?