The purpose of the Conflict Styles course is to provide participants with knowledge, self-awareness and analysis, and application/skill development across the range of conflict styles in order to manage issues and displutes more effectively. This session draws on the established Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode research and assessment. The course goal is to identify an individual's preferred conflict-handling style across five modes (Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, Accommodating) so that they many manage conflict more effectively by intentionally choosing a conflict response based on issue and relationship importance.

Program Level: Basic

Prerequisites: None

Advanced Preparation: N/A

Instructional Method: Group-Internet Based

Instructor: Lisa Nelson

Recommended CPE Credit: 1.0 Hours

Field of Study: Personal Development

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

  • Distinguish the two dimensions of conflict behavior and demonstrate the roles of assertiveness (concern for self) and cooperativeness (concern for others) in conflict resolution.
  • Identify the five conflict modes and apply knowledge to recognize the characteristics of competing, accommodating, avoiding, collaborating, and compromising.
  • Identify and provide clarifying examples of their default conflict response and preferred and underused conflict modes, documenting why no single mode is best for all situations.
  • Apply when each of the five modes is most effective (and least effective) based on situational factors. 
  • Manage conflict more effectively by intentionally choosing a conflict style based on the importance of the issue and the importance of the relationship. 

Course Developer: Lisa Nelson

Course Reviewer: Normandy Roden - April 2026

Program Policies

NASBA Statement

The University of Colorado is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.