5 Conflict Management Techniques for Alliance Professionals

Conflict can be healthy for an alliance relationship when managed respectfully. And whenever two or more companies form an alliance, there is a higher chance of conflict between GTM strategies, product roadmaps, execution, etc.

You can't escape it. There are five ways to manage any conflict, and you can decide for yourself which one suits you better based on the situation.

1. Forcing

When using this conflict management technique, an individual takes a firm stance and holds their ground, on their point of view about a situation. It works well when you need to end a long-term conflict and come to a quick resolution, asap.

2. Collaborating

It is one of my favorites conflict management styles, and I often refer to it as Win-Win methodology. In this style, you work with all the principal parties to come up with a solution that everyone feels happy about it because it meets everyone's needs. This style is useful when you need to address the interests of multiple stakeholders collaboratively.

3. Compromising

When time is a factor, and you need to come up with a solution fast, the compromising methodology could be your best bet. By using this technique, you come up for a mutually acceptable solution that partially satisfies the parties involved.

4. Withdrawing

Withdrawing conflict management style can be partly unhealthy, but I have seen it happen often. In this technique, you or others will dodge the conflict whenever it comes up. You neither pursue yours or your opponent's solution and withdraw from the situation. The reason its partially unhealthy because it could be beneficial when you need more time to gather information before you can reinstate your point of view. But it can be unhealthy if you or others are avoiding the conflict, hoping it will resolve itself in due time.

5. Smoothing

In smoothing, you put other’s concerns before yours. It works best when you feel you might be wrong, underprepared or when the continued conflict would be detrimental to the project.

You can use any of these five conflict management techniques when you need them. Each one has its pros and cons so use them wisely.