Conflict priorities

Workplace conflict is unavoidable.

The question isn’t how to create a harmonious workplace, but how to engage in productive conflict, so the best ideas rise to the top.

Understanding how each of your coworkers engage in conflict can help you identify healthy and unhealthy conflict behaviors, rather than assume ill intent.

The DiSC Model can help. Here are the “conflict priorities” of the different communication styles.

Conflict Priorities	Examples
Assertion	When I'm in a conflict, I confront the topic without waiting and tackle the issue head-on.
Expression	When I'm in a conflict, I tend to verbalize my emotions and have a strong need to express my feelings.
Reassurance	When I'm in a conflict, I'm still very empathetic with the other person and am sometimes eager to forgive the other person even if I probably shouldn't.
Harmony	When I'm in a conflict, the lack of harmony in the relationship really bothers me and I do whatever it takes to calm the situation down.
Stability	When I'm in a conflict, the lack of stability in my world is very unnerving for me and I sometimes cave in just to make things stable again.
Objectivity	When I'm in a conflict, I'm very disciplined at stepping outside of myself and analyzing the situation objectively, and I prefer that we leave emotion out of the discussion.
Justification	When I'm in a conflict I'm great at quickly coming up with an airtight justification for my position and I'm very good at logically dissecting and dismantling the other person's argument.
Control	When I'm in a conflict, I make sure I'm in control and I often take charge of the conversation.

Take a moment to think of what’s important to your colleagues during conflict, to use this information to your advantage.