What does confronting involve in conflict management?

• A. Avoiding the issue to reduce tension and prevent disagreement.
• B. Individuals express their concerns directly so that the other party can hear them.
• C. One party concedes early to end the dispute.
• D. A process that delays decisions to allow more time for reflection.

Answer: (B)

Confronting in conflict management means addressing the issue directly and honestly so both people can hear what’s bothering them. It involves stating concerns clearly, focusing on specific behaviors or impacts, and inviting the other person to respond so you can work toward a solution together. This approach aims to resolve the disagreement rather than letting it fester or be avoided. It contrasts with avoidance, which sidesteps the problem; capitulation, which gives in too quickly and leaves the underlying issue unresolved; or delaying decisions, which stalls progress without tackling the root cause. For example, if a safety practice is being skipped, a confronting approach would be to say, “I’ve noticed the late-night checklist isn’t being completed, and that could affect patient safety. Can we talk about what’s making this difficult and how we can fix it?”