I recently attended the "Alternate Dispute Resolution Workshop" on December 11th delivered by Humber College Students.  They helped me recognize that conflict is a part of normal life. There have been countless times that I've come face-to-face with some type of dispute whether at home or at school. After all, I can't expect everyone to agree with my opinions and views on things. One important takeaway that I had after attending the workshop is that it truly comes down to how we deal with and manage the situation at hand. I thought back to the many conflicts in my life and asked myself, how did I handle them? Is the strategy I used in the past going to be the same approach I would take in the present since I now have a better understanding of the different solutions to resolve conflict? The answer is yes, moving forward, I will strive to use the best conflict resolution strategy that works for me and which also suits the situation of the conflict at hand. I think my go-to strategy would be the collaborating style because I am a cooperative individual who seeks to uphold goals and success as well as maintain positive professional relationships. Which one works for you?

Collaborating Style: A combination of being assertive and cooperative in an attempt to work with others to identify a solution that fully satisfies everyone’s concerns.

Competing Style: Being assertive and uncooperative and only willing to pursue one’s own concerns at another person’s expense.

Compromising Style: Aims to find a mutually acceptable solution that partially satisfies both parties.

Avoiding Style: Not willing to take action, rather it involves sidestepping the issue or simply withdrawing from the situation.

Accommodating Style: The idea of self-sacrificing one's own ideas and opinions in order to accommodate and satisfy the other person.