Thomas Kilmann Inventory (TKI)Conflict is inevitable. Negative outcomes from conflict are not.
We all know time is money. There are many direct costs that occur when conflict is handled poorly. A CPP survey found that, on average, each employee spends 2.1 hours every week – approximately 1 day a month – dealing with conflict in some way. For the U.S. alone, that translates to 385 million working days spent every year as a result of conflict in the workplace. Therefore, ignoring conflict management diminishes the bottom line. It is no surprise that conflict exists in our world since all people see and experience the world differently. While it is a normal, natural part of life, conflict is often perceived as ‘bad’. However, if managed well, conflict can bring about positive outcomes such as growth and creative change. Training is one of the most effective ways to improve conflict outcomes. The Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) has been used for over 35 years and is the world’s best-selling assessment for understanding how different conflict-handling styles affect interpersonal and group dynamics. According toKenneth W.Thomas and Ralph H. Kilmann, authors of the Thomas Kilmann Conflict Inventory, there are 5 conflict styles, however, most people tend to stay in their ‘comfort zone’ and use only 1 or 2 of the conflict styles. Given that certain conflict styles are more useful than others in different situations it is helpful to learn about the most appropriate uses for each conflict-handling mode. Learning to identify the appropriate use of conflict styles will facilitate workers becoming more comfortable with styles they are less familiar with. The increased knowledge and improved skill will help people confidently walk through a conflict, producing more positive outcomes. |