One crucial takeaway from the conflict management material is the importance of active listening. This involves truly focusing on understanding the other person’s perspective, not just waiting for your turn to speak. By employing active listening techniques like reflecting back what you hear and avoiding interrupting, you can build trust and empathy, which are essential for resolving conflict constructively.

My Conflict Management Style:

My conflict management style leans towards accommodation. I tend to prioritize maintaining harmony and may be willing to concede some points to avoid escalation. While this can be helpful in de-escalating a tense situation, it can also mean I don’t always effectively advocate for my own needs or positions.

Interprofessional Conflict Example:

(If you have a personal experience, you can replace this example with your own)

Let’s consider the situation described in Module 3 where a nurse and a physical therapist disagree on a patient’s discharge plan. The nurse feels the patient is not yet strong enough for home care, while the physical therapist believes the patient can safely manage with home health services.

In this scenario, using my natural tendency towards accommodation might lead me to simply defer to the physical therapist’s expertise, even if I have reservations. However, based on the conflict management learnings, a more productive approach would involve:

1. Active Listening: I would actively listen to both the nurse and the physical therapist to understand their concerns and reasoning.
2. Collaboration: I would then suggest a collaborative approach where we discuss the patient’s specific needs and limitations and explore options that address both the nurse’s safety concerns and the physical therapist’s goals for home care.
3. Open Communication: Open communication and a willingness to consider different perspectives would be key to finding a solution that works for everyone involved, especially the patient.

Would I Change My Approach?

Absolutely. By incorporating active listening and collaborative problem-solving techniques, I could have facilitated a more productive discussion and potentially reached a better outcome for the patient’s discharge plan.

In conclusion, the conflict management material emphasizes the importance of active listening, collaboration, and open communication in resolving conflict. By understanding my natural conflict resolution style and applying these learned techniques, I can become a more effective team member and advocate for the best possible care for patients.