Unlock Leadership Potential with Conflict Awareness
As a leader, managing conflict is one of the trickiest parts of the job. Conflict is inevitable, but how you handle it can either boost collaboration or stifle productivity. The Thomas-Kilmann Instrument (TKI)— is a psychological assessment tool designed to measure an individual's preferred method of dealing with conflict.
The Thomas-Kilmann Instrument: A Quick Overview
The TKI identifies five conflict resolution modes:
Competing – Assertive and uncooperative.
Collaborating – Assertive and cooperative.
Compromising – Moderate in both.
Avoiding – Unassertive and uncooperative.
Accommodating – Unassertive but cooperative.
These modes are plotted on two axes: assertiveness and cooperativeness. The TKI helps you see your default conflict approach, revealing whether you lean more towards assertiveness, cooperativeness, or somewhere in between.
Unconscious Conflict Bias: The Leadership Blind Spot
We all have a default conflict mode shaped by our personalities, upbringing, and experiences. This unconscious bias can create leadership blind spots. For instance, if you avoid conflict, you might default to Avoiding, while someone used to confrontation might default to Competing. Using the same mode in every scenario is often counterproductive.
Why Self-Awareness is Key
Your ability to navigate conflict impacts team morale, productivity, and organisational culture. The TKI helps you become aware of your default mode and offers a framework for strategic conflict management. For example, Collaborating is great for win-win solutions but may not be ideal in high-pressure situations where quick decisions are needed.
Adapting to the Situation
Effective conflict resolution requires adaptability. Recognise when your instinctive response isn’t working and choose a different approach:
Time-sensitive situations: Use Competing to make quick decisions.
Relationship stakes: Opt for Collaborating or Accommodating to build trust.
Trivial issues: Avoid or Compromise to keep things moving.
Building Conflict Adaptability
Practice, reflection, and feedback are key. After each conflict, reflect on your approach and seek feedback to refine your skills.
The TKI offers a powerful lens for understanding your conflict tendencies. But awareness alone isn’t enough. True leadership lies in adapting your conflict style to the situation. Master this skill, and you’ll create a more harmonious, effective work environment.
Unlock your conflict potential and watch your leadership soar!
