Conflict Management Styles to Resolve Workplace Challenges

Abstract. The study focused on conflict management styles and workplace challenges encountered by the respondents. The research used mixed-method descriptive research design employing explanatory sequential analysis by quantifying data first and expounding it through qualitative data. The researcher used Adkins Conflict Management Style Assessment to determine the respondents’ preferred conflict management styles and a validated interview guide to gather workplace challenges that were observed and experienced by the respondents. The participants of the study were school administrators/directors, college deans/program chairpersons, and unit/office heads. The result of the study stated that most of the workplace challenges encountered by the respondents were task-related workplace challenges and interpersonal-related challenges that most likely lead to workplace conflicts. The respondents have displayed a consistent utilization of the five conflicts management styles proving its potential to differing conflicts as referred to Table 2 of the research findings. Collaborating was the most commonly used conflict management style followed by competing, compromising, accommodating, and avoiding where these conflict management styles were proven to be effective varying on the nature and extent of conflicts. Maintaining open communication during conflicts was the most frequently mentioned initiative from the respondents to mitigate workplace challenges and could help avoid workplace conflicts which was further followed by improving processes and procedures, regular trainings for pcs and deans, team building and maintaining good attitude at all times and avoiding confrontation. Keywords: Avoiding; Accommodating; Collaborating; Competing; Compromising; Conflict Management Style