Negotiation and Conflict Resolution skills - Coursework Example

It is important in life and in the workplace to learn how to negotiate. Negotiation can be defined as to deal or bargain with another party in regards to a treaty, contract or business deal (Dictionary, 2011). A few years ago I had a part job working as an administrative assistant of an accounting department. When I worked there I was mentored by my supervisor. When he got a job transfer to another subsidiary he recommends me for the position. There was me and another colleague that applied for the job internally as well as other outside applications.

There was a rumor going around the office that the job would be given to the cousin of one of the managers who just graduate from college. We inquired our boss about the rumor and she said under no circumstances would be job be given based on preferential treatment. Two weeks later the job was given to cousin of the manager. I was very angry and disappointed because my boss has lied to us. I began to avoid my boss. My contract was up and I refused to sign another contract because I felt uncomfortable working under a person with such low ethical standards.

The conflict resolution technique that I used without realizing was avoidance. Avoidance involves pretending the conflict does not exist (Shermerhorn & Hunt & Osborn, 2003). During this course I learned a lot about conflict resolution. Based on my new knowledge and the fact that I have matured lot since then I would have handled the situation differently. A conflict resolution technique that would have improved my relations with my boss was accommodation. People that use accommodation style of conflict resolution value relationship and realize that conflict will only harm relationships (Sdcoe, 2011).

I could not find a way to resolve my issues with my boss. The use of accommodation would have enabled me to communicate the issue with my boss in order to play down our differences to find areas of agreement. Another conflict resolution technique that would have been useful to revolve that problem is compromise. Compromise occurs when both parties give up something they want to find a solution (beyondintractability, 2010). A compromise to the conflict would have been for my boss to admit that she was wrong, but that her hands were forced due to internal pressures for her superior.

References Beyondintractability.org (2010). Compromise. Retrieved April 21, 2011 from http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/compromise/ Dictionary.com (2011). Negotiate. Retrieved April 21, 2011 from http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/negotiate Schermerhorn, J., Hunt, J., Osborn, R. (2003). Organizational Behavior (8th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. Sdcoe.edu (2011). Conflict Resolution. San Diego County Office of Education. Retrieved April 21, 2011 from http://www.sdcoe.net/vpi/conflict.asp