Conflict Resolution
Content
Conflict Resolution Activity #1: The Power Differential Conflict – The Role of Power Where do you see massage therapists having power in positions of conflict. Are there different power dynamics when in conflict with a client, a colleague, etc? In terms of massage therapy who has the most power within the relationship? Five ways we have power as a massage therapist are: 1) Being respected – because of our credentials 2) Being Selected – Having registration to prove credentials in our case receiving our registration as a MT. This kind of power is called legitimate power; influence is gained from being hired, elected, or appointed to a powerful position. 3) Being Knowledgeable – This kind of power is called expert power; influence is based on experience and a specific set of skills. 4) Being able to punish – Can come in the form of negative transference towards our clients, not the best way to deal with clientele. 5) Being able to reward – Positive transference. The best thing to remember when it comes to you and your client is that they are always in our best interest. Specific things like our credentials (our knowledge) and our status within society can give us a power over our clients. Keeping a fair balance is the easiest way to avoid these problems. Informing our clients about their right is also a just way to approach this situation.
Activity #2: A Theory about Conflict Resolution The next site relates to a particular theory about conflict resolution. Please note that this is but one theory and may not be applicable in all situations. Please complete the exercise on the web page and then copy and paste it to this section of your portfolio. Identify/choose a home, school, or work situation in which you had a conflict with another person in the past month, and describe the situation with respect to your degree of cooperation and your degree of assertiveness when involved in the conflict. Do you feel this was the “best” way to manage that conflict? Why or why not? In the last month one of my courses involved a group project. The project had a span of over 5 weeks. Within the group there were five people so it was quite a challenge working with everyone else’s ideas. Eventually the group compromised on a final contract and a final product. Over the course of the assignment, contact was lost and some tasks were not completed. I was very determined to complete this assignment so I took initiative and began putting the final product together. Everyone had their task and also had a completion date. By the completion date half of the tasks were not completed so I went ahead with what I had and put the project together. Not a lot of communication was involved with my group members and I think in the end this was our conflict. I believe that I was very assertive but my degree of cooperation could have been a lot better. Being in a win or lose mode was probably not the best way to manage this conflict. At the same time I believe that I was accommodating. I took the initiative to complete the assignment although I had many other things to do (personal goals). Overall I do not think this conflict was handled properly. I could have been compromising and communicative with my teammates. Understanding that a there is a certain level of assertiveness involved but a good balance of cooperation is needed to avoid conflict.
Activity #2: A Theory about Conflict Resolution The next site relates to a particular theory about conflict resolution. Please note that this is but one theory and may not be applicable in all situations. Please complete the exercise on the web page and then copy and paste it to this section of your portfolio. Identify/choose a home, school, or work situation in which you had a conflict with another person in the past month, and describe the situation with respect to your degree of cooperation and your degree of assertiveness when involved in the conflict. Do you feel this was the “best” way to manage that conflict? Why or why not? In the last month one of my courses involved a group project. The project had a span of over 5 weeks. Within the group there were five people so it was quite a challenge working with everyone else’s ideas. Eventually the group compromised on a final contract and a final product. Over the course of the assignment, contact was lost and some tasks were not completed. I was very determined to complete this assignment so I took initiative and began putting the final product together. Everyone had their task and also had a completion date. By the completion date half of the tasks were not completed so I went ahead with what I had and put the project together. Not a lot of communication was involved with my group members and I think in the end this was our conflict. I believe that I was very assertive but my degree of cooperation could have been a lot better. Being in a win or lose mode was probably not the best way to manage this conflict. At the same time I believe that I was accommodating. I took the initiative to complete the assignment although I had many other things to do (personal goals). Overall I do not think this conflict was handled properly. I could have been compromising and communicative with my teammates. Understanding that a there is a certain level of assertiveness involved but a good balance of cooperation is needed to avoid conflict.
