5 Levels of Conflict
Level 1: Problem
Signs
- Language is generally open-hearted and constructive.
- People uses facts to back up the argument.
Level 2: Disagreement
Signs
- Language is self-protection.
Level 3: Contest
Signs
- Language is distorted where presumptions are made and over generalisation.
Level 4: Crusade
Signs
- The conflict becomes ideological and polarised.
Level 5: World War
Signs
- Language is little or non-existent.
Response Options
- Collaboration: Look for a win-win situation.
- Consensus: Look for a solution everyone can agree on.
Response Options
- Support: Empower team to resolve disagreement themselves.
- Safety: Use collaboration games to reinforce team shared values.
Response Options
- Accommodate: Yield to others viewpoint as the relationship more important than an issue.
- Negotiate: If an issue is “Dividable” then negotiation can work.
- Get Factual: Gather data on an issue to get facts.
Response Options
- Diplomacy: Be a facilitator between two groups as all communication has broken down.
- De-Escalate: Try to de-escalate the conflict to a lower level.
Response Options
- Unresolvable: Sometimes when it gets to level 5 the conflict is unresolvable and you need to figure out a way everyone can remain working without hurting each other.
This article is part of the our 100 Agile Tools & Techniques epic article based off the PMI list of recommended techniques and tools in their PMI-ACP certification syllabus.
