This free conflict style quiz asks 12 quick questions about how you handle disagreements at work, then shows your main conflict management style – competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding or accommodating – with your score for each.
The 5 conflict management styles
- Competing (the shark) – stands firm and pushes for their own position – useful when a fast, firm decision is needed.
- Collaborating (the owl) – looks for a win-win solution by digging into the real issue.
- Compromising (the fox) – finds a fair middle ground quickly, so each side gives a little.
- Avoiding (the turtle) – steps back from conflict, delaying or sidestepping it.
- Accommodating (the teddy bear) – puts the other person’s needs first to keep the peace.
How the conflict style assessment works
Each question describes a real workplace disagreement. Pick the answer closest to what you actually do. The quiz counts how often you chose each style and shows the one you use most, with its strengths, its blind spots and what to read next. For practical steps, read how to manage conflict as a leader.
Conflict style and leadership
How you handle conflict is a big part of how you lead. Compare your result with the free Leadership Style Quiz and the Decision-Making Style Quiz.
How you handle conflict depends a lot on emotional intelligence. Check yours with the free EQ test.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 5 conflict management styles?
Competing, collaborating, compromising, avoiding and accommodating. They differ in how much you focus on your own goals versus the other person’s, and each one suits different situations.
What are the conflict style animals?
The five styles are often shown as animals: competing is the shark, collaborating the owl, compromising the fox, avoiding the turtle and accommodating the teddy bear.
Which conflict style is best?
None is best every time. Collaborating works well for important issues with time to solve them, competing for emergencies, compromising for quick fair deals, avoiding for trivial issues and accommodating when the relationship matters more than the outcome.
Can my conflict style change?
Yes. Most people have a main style and a backup style, and both can change with practice, role and situation. The quiz shows your score for all five so you can see your mix.
Is this conflict style assessment free?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, and your result appears instantly. Adding your email to get a copy is optional.
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