CRED Successful and Skilful Communications 2025

Conflict resolution techniques - Withdrawing (avoiding)

Not addressing the conflict but side-stepping, postponing or withdrawing • Appropriate when issue not worth the effort, more important issues are pressing, you don't have time to deal with it or it is not the right time or place to confront the issue • When you see no chance of getting your concerns met or when dealing with hostility or if you are too emotionally involved or others can handle it better • Advantages ● Can postpone until circumstances more favourable for you to push back ● Time to better prepare and collect information before you act • Disadvantages ● May lead to weakening or losing your position ● Not acting may be interpreted as an agreement. ● Negatively affect your relationship with a party that expects your action

The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs

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Conflict resolution techniques - Smoothing (accommodating)

Putting the concerns of other people first, rather than prioritising one’s own • Appropriate when it is important to provide temporary relief from conflict or to buy time until you are in a better position to respond • When the issue is not as important to you as it is to the other person • When you accept that you are wrong or you have no choice or when continued conflict would be detrimental • Advantages ● Protect more important interests while giving up on some less important ones ● Provide an opportunity to reassess the situation from a different angle ● As a rule, does not require much effort • Disadvantages ● Need to use judiciously or risk being taken advantage of ● Might affect your confidence in ability to respond to an aggressive opponent ● Makes it more difficult to transition to a win-win solution in the future

The Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs

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