Avoidance

Definition

Avoidance is a coping mechanism where an individual or organization attempts to evade or escape from a conflict or confrontation. It involves actively or passively refusing to address or engage with a problematic situation, often in an effort to minimize discomfort or potential negative consequences.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Avoidance is a common conflict resolution strategy, but it often fails to address the root causes of the conflict and can lead to the problem escalating over time.
2. Organizations that rely heavily on avoidance to manage conflicts may develop a culture of passive-aggressiveness, low morale, and poor communication.
3. While avoidance may provide temporary relief, it can ultimately undermine trust, collaboration, and problem-solving within an organization.
4. Effective conflict resolution often requires addressing the underlying issues through open communication, compromise, and a willingness to engage with the conflict.
5. Overcoming the tendency to avoid conflicts can be challenging, but developing skills in active listening, empathy, and constructive dialogue can help individuals and organizations manage conflicts more effectively.

Review Questions

• Explain how avoidance can negatively impact conflict resolution in organizations.
  • Avoidance as a conflict resolution strategy can have several negative consequences for organizations. By failing to address underlying issues, avoidance allows conflicts to fester and potentially escalate over time, undermining trust, collaboration, and problem-solving. Additionally, a culture of avoidance can lead to passive-aggressive behaviors, low morale, and poor communication, all of which can hinder an organization's ability to effectively resolve conflicts. Effective conflict resolution often requires a willingness to engage with the conflict through open communication, compromise, and a focus on addressing the root causes of the problem.
• Describe the differences between passive avoidance and active avoidance in the context of resolving conflicts in organizations.
  • Passive avoidance involves failing to take action or make decisions in order to avoid dealing with a conflict, while active avoidance involves deliberately taking steps to distance oneself or an organization from a conflict. Passive avoidance can manifest as a reluctance to address issues, a lack of decision-making, or a general unwillingness to engage with the conflict. Active avoidance, on the other hand, may involve physically removing oneself from the situation, changing the subject, or implementing policies or procedures that limit the organization's exposure to the conflict. Both forms of avoidance can have detrimental effects on an organization's ability to resolve conflicts effectively, as they prevent the underlying issues from being addressed and can contribute to a culture of passive-aggressiveness and poor communication.
• Evaluate the role that developing skills in active listening, empathy, and constructive dialogue can play in overcoming the tendency to avoid conflicts in organizations.
  • Overcoming the tendency to avoid conflicts in organizations requires a shift in mindset and the development of specific skills. Active listening, empathy, and constructive dialogue are crucial in this process. Active listening involves fully engaging with the other party, seeking to understand their perspective, and demonstrating that understanding through reflective responses. Empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others, can help individuals and organizations approach conflicts with compassion and a willingness to find common ground. Constructive dialogue, characterized by open and honest communication, a focus on problem-solving, and a commitment to finding mutually beneficial solutions, can enable organizations to address conflicts in a productive manner. By cultivating these skills, individuals and organizations can move away from avoidance and toward more effective conflict resolution strategies that address the underlying issues and strengthen relationships within the organization.

Related terms

Conflict Avoidance: The tendency to shy away from or suppress conflicts, rather than addressing them directly.

Passive Avoidance: A form of avoidance where individuals or organizations fail to take action or make decisions in order to avoid dealing with a conflict.

Active Avoidance: A more deliberate form of avoidance where individuals or organizations take steps to actively distance themselves from or prevent a conflict from occurring.