Avoidance strategy

Definition

An avoidance strategy is a conflict management approach where individuals or teams choose to sidestep or ignore the conflict rather than addressing it directly. This strategy often arises in situations where the perceived cost of confrontation outweighs the potential benefits, leading to temporary peace but potentially unresolved issues that can resurface later.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Avoidance strategies can lead to short-term relief from conflict but may result in larger issues over time if the underlying problems remain unaddressed.
2. While avoidance can be useful in low-stakes situations, consistently relying on this strategy can erode trust and communication within teams.
3. This strategy may manifest as procrastination, denial, or ignoring the issue altogether, which can lead to misunderstandings and frustration among team members.
4. In some cases, avoidance strategies are a conscious choice made to give team members time to cool off before revisiting a contentious issue.
5. Over time, reliance on avoidance strategies can negatively affect team dynamics, causing unresolved conflicts to fester and potentially leading to more significant confrontations later.

Review Questions

• How does an avoidance strategy impact team dynamics in the short and long term?
  • In the short term, an avoidance strategy can create a temporary sense of peace within a team by sidelining conflicts and allowing members to focus on their tasks. However, in the long term, consistently avoiding conflicts can lead to increased tension, miscommunication, and resentment among team members as unresolved issues accumulate. This can ultimately undermine trust and collaboration, resulting in a more fractured team environment.
• What are some scenarios where using an avoidance strategy might be more beneficial than addressing conflict directly?
  • Using an avoidance strategy may be beneficial in situations where the conflict is minor and does not significantly affect team performance or morale. For example, if two team members have differing opinions on a trivial matter, it might be wise to let them resolve it on their own rather than escalating it into a larger discussion. Additionally, during high-stress periods or when emotions are running high, avoiding confrontation temporarily may allow team members to regroup and approach the issue with a clearer mindset later.
• Evaluate the long-term implications of consistently relying on avoidance strategies in conflict management and suggest alternative approaches.
  • Consistently relying on avoidance strategies can lead to significant long-term implications such as unresolved issues becoming more serious over time, erosion of trust among team members, and decreased overall morale. Teams might find themselves facing bigger conflicts that could have been managed early on if addressed directly. Instead of avoidance, alternative approaches like open dialogue, compromise, or collaboration should be encouraged. These methods foster better communication and provide opportunities for all team members to express their concerns and work towards constructive solutions.

Related terms

Conflict resolution: The process of resolving a dispute or disagreement between parties through various methods, aiming to find a satisfactory solution.

Compromise: A conflict management technique where parties involved agree to make concessions to reach a mutually acceptable resolution.

Collaboration: A conflict resolution approach that involves working together to find a win-win solution that satisfies all parties' needs.