I have always been an assertive person, never giving in or agreeing with someone else just to avoid conflict. When it comes to dealing with conflicts, I feel that I tend to take a relationship-centered orientation. I think that I lean towards this orientation because it allows me to be assertive and share my opinions, yet I still respect others’ opinions and listen to what they have to share.
Being assertive is part of this orientation and I cannot remember a time where I was not assertive in a conflict. The outcomes of my conflicts usually satisfy me when using this orientation, but I still have trouble when it comes to collaboration and compromise. I use both but tend to lean towards collaboration.
The other orientations discussed in this chapter do not seem to fit the way I am at all so I feel that I always use the assertive relationship-centered orientation. Whether it is family, boyfriend or friends I do not switch off the way I deal with conflict. Now, of course I do not speak to my parents the same way I speak to my friends, but I am assertive to both just in different manners of speaking. I think I just need to work on collaboration versus compromise to get better outcomes.
I think that this is a great way to deal with conflict. It is easy with the other two to somewhat step on toes or leave yourself feeling like you just folded on a good hand just to avoid the reaction of the other people involved.
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