Discover Your Conflict Management Style

by Speed Leas

Speed B. Leas helps readers to assess their conflict response and discover options appropriate to different levels of conflict. He draws on years of experience helping conflicted congregations to provide valuable insights on the nature of conflict and its resolution, making this an excellent tool for raising self-awareness and a practical introduction to conflict management. This new edition contains an improved Conflict Strategy Instrument, revised to reflect new learnings and more accurately describe your conflict management style.

Genres: Leadership

52 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1985

Reviews

[Garrett Trott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leas points out six distinct ways of handling conflict. Leas argues that his list does not differentiate between good and poor ways of handling conflict, but more so that there are a variety of ways in which one can handle conflict and that context plays a key role in knowing which way to handle a conflict. Leas suggests that individuals have preferences to handling conflict. Thus, his short book, including a conflict inventory, enables individuals to see where their strengths and weaknesses lie when dealing with conflict.

The six ways of dealing with conflict which Leas describes (and which his survey utilizes) are: persuade, compel, avoid/accommodate, collaborate, negotiate, and support. He briefly describes each of these providing examples and suggesting contexts in which these can work.

A key to being able to resolve conflict is, Leas suggests, recognizing which means you are currently using in a conflict scenario and subsequently being able to switch modes (when necessary). Subsequently, this can provide insight into which conflict management style your opponent is using as well. By being able to recognize this and subsequently changing your style can be an incredible asset in a variety of contexts.

[Paula Kraus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Required reading

This book explains different styles of dealing with conflict which is a must read for anyone in church leadership. I will recommend to my board

[Alane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the tool and the information helpful, but it wasn't anything that I didn't already know. If you've never pondered this before than this might be a good starting point.

[Annie Slagboom · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Discover your Conflict Management Style was developed for use in churches and synagogues to help members gain insight and skill in dealing with conflicts before they become very difficult or nasty." - The Alban Institute. The pamphlet is easy to read and full of quick practical application. The "Conflict Inventory" assessment test is accurate upon honest appraisal. The pamphlet covers each of the six conflict style categories which are Persuasion, Compulsion, Avoidance/Accommodation, Collaboration, Negotiation, and Support.
Each of the subdivided categories lists advantages and disadvantages of each conflict style even listing how you can improve.
I found the book to be practical and very concise. However, the book glosses over the real reasons for conflict. Discover Your Conflict Management Style is an easy to read and apply pamphlet I recommend.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

At less than 50 pages, this book gets right to the point. Its most valuable asset is the self-test. Leas helps the reader to find their obvious strength while also helping one to discover his/her on "fall back" methods. This would be a great resource for Elders, Deacons, or any lay-group.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short book but worth it for the tool for examining how you handle conflict.

[Trey Kennedy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is meant to give insight into how you manage conflict. I was mostly unsurprised.