Positive and Future-Focused vs. I-Focused: A Comparative Examination of Effective Conflict Resolution Scripts to Minimize Gender Backlash in Engineering Settings

Abstract

This paper presents three studies that examine how women can respond to conflict in assertive ways that obtain their desired result without harm to their competence and likability, thus minimizing gender backlash. In Study 1, we interviewed 29 experienced women engineers and had them read scenarios of common team conflicts and describe the exact words they would use (and the words they would avoid using) to respond in these conflicts. We inductively coded these responses to develop a positive, future-focused (PFF) script for responding to conflict that minimized gender backlash. This PFF script balances communality and agency by pointing out positives, foregrounding group goals, focusing on solutions, and avoiding emotion. In two follow-up experimental studies, we compared the PFF script to popular psychology advice that encourages individuals to foreground their personal feelings with I-focused statements. Engineering students (N = 289, Study 2; N = 279, Study 3) viewed three conflict scenarios with different response strategies and rated their impressions of the protagonist and the likelihood of a satisfactory outcome. Results demonstrated that conflict responses based on the PFF script led to significantly better impressions and outcomes for both men and women protagonists compared to responses based on I-focused statements. Training students and professionals to use PFF conflict resolution strategies has the potential to increase women’s visibility in situations where they currently remain silent and to improve overall team dynamics in ways that challenge gender stereotypes.

Appendix. I-Statements and PFF Scripts Used in the Three Scenarios

Scenario 1: Dismissed Ideas

MARY/MIKE and Jeff are members of a four-person team writing a proposal to request funding for a new biomedical technology. Every time MARY/MIKE suggests an idea, Jeff immediately dismisses it, explaining why MARY/MIKE's suggestion won’t work. However, when another teammate suggests another, almost identical idea, Jeff listens to it and considers it.

I-Statement

After the meeting, MARY/MIKE speaks to Jeff and says “Each time I made a suggestion in this meeting, you immediately pointed out why my idea was wrong. However, when Ethan proposed an idea almost identical to one of mine, you asked him questions and spent time considering it. [OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION] When my ideas are immediately rejected, I feel discouraged and resentful because I feel I can't contribute to the project. [SUBJECTIVE FEELING] Could we come up with a better process for discussing ideas?” [WHAT PROTAGONIST WOULD LIKE].

PFF Script

After the meeting, MARY/MIKE speaks to Jeff and says "You have great insights and I really appreciate how you are constantly trying to anticipate potential problems. [POINT OUT POSITIVE] However, I think we could have more efficient and higher quality meetings [SHARED GOAL] if we discussed ideas more thoroughly before rejecting them. In the future, what do you think about structuring our brainstorming sessions by writing down everyone’s ideas and then systematically discussing the pros and cons before making a group decision?" [PROPOSED SOLUTION].

Scenario 2: Unprepared for Meeting

JENNA/JAMES is project manager for a project analyzing the stress loads different concrete mixtures could support. At the most recent team meeting, one of the team members, Tim, was supposed to have brought in completed copies of the group’s statistical analyses. However, Tim showed up for the meeting unprepared and apparently unaware that he was supposed to present his analyses.

I-Statement

After the meeting, JENNA/JAMES takes Tim aside and says “In the meeting that just ended, you were unaware that you were supposed to present the data and analyses we will use in our report. [OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION] Doing the data analysis is an important role, and not knowing you were supposed to have completed it caused our team to fall behind schedule. When you were not aware that you were supposed to present tonight, it made me feel as though you were not taking this project seriously. [SUBJECTIVE FEELING] I would like to see you email out the data analysis part as soon as possible and come to the next meeting prepared to talk us through your analysis. [WHAT PROTAGONIST WOULD LIKE] When team members are prepared, the team can stay on schedule and has a better chance of having a high quality project." from Harms and Roebuck (2010)

PFF Script

After the meeting, JENNA/JAMES takes Tim aside and says “I really appreciate you taking on the data analysis role [POINT OUT POSITIVE] but we need team members to come prepared to meetings so we can stay on schedule and use our time efficiently.[SHARED GOAL] Can you email out the data analysis part as soon as possible and come to the next meeting prepared to talk us through your analysis? [PROPOSED SOLUTION] The data analysis is central and the team needs it and your full participation to stay on schedule and have a high quality project."

Scenario 3: Unanswered Emails

Thomas and KATHERINE/KEVIN are each in charge of different subcomponents of a large team project to develop a complex new technology. KATHERINE/KEVIN needs Thomas to answer some specific questions so KATHERINE/KEVIN’s team can ensure their part of the project will work. However, Thomas has not responded to the last four messages KATHERINE/KEVIN has sent over the past two days. Thomas has a reputation for being one of the smartest students in the class and KATHERINE/KEVIN is concerned that Thomas does not feel the work KATHERINE/KEVIN’s team is doing is very important.

I-Statement

At the next class, KATHERINE/KEVIN approaches Thomas in person and says “I feel frustrated [SUBJECTIVE FEELING] because you have not responded to my last four messages [OBJECTIVE EVENT] which leads me to feel that you do not care about my team’s part of the project.[SUBJECTIVE FEELING] What can I do to get more timely responses from your team?” [WHAT PROTAGONIST WOULD LIKE].

PFF Script

At the next class, KATHERINE/KEVIN approaches Thomas in person and says “You are doing great work on a critical part of this project [POINT OUT POSITIVE] but we want to make sure everything is working together by the deadline [SHARED GOAL]. What is a better way to get answers to our questions when we need them? My last four messages to you didn’t get a response. Is there a better way to communicate with your team?" [PROPOSE SOLUTION].