thomas-kilmann

Runs the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument to choose how to handle a specific conflict. Conflict-handling behavior varies on two axes, assertiveness (concern for your own goals) and cooperativeness (concern for the other party's), producing five modes: Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, and Accommodating. Catches the failure of defaulting to your habit; no mode is best, so match the mode to THIS situation.

The two axes, the five modes, the situational factors, and the pitfalls live in references/thomas-kilmann.md. Load that file before analyzing.

When to use

The user faces a concrete conflict, disagreement, or dispute and is deciding how to approach it. The unit of analysis is one situation between defined parties, not a personality assessment and not a general communication style. Pairs with negotiation-prep when the chosen mode is collaborating or compromising and a deal must be worked, and with stakeholder-analysis when the conflict spans several parties with different stakes. Do not use it to type people; use it to choose an approach for this conflict.

Language

Conduct the session and write the report in the language the user is writing in. The reference file is English; keep the framework keyed to it regardless of the output language.

Inputs

• CONFLICT (required): the dispute to navigate: the parties, what each side wants, and what is at stake. If this is vague, narrow it with one or two questions before analyzing.
• CONTEXT (optional): the power balance, how much the relationship matters, time pressure, the history and trust between the parties, and the user's own habitual conflict style. Shapes which modes fit and lets the synthesis flag a mismatched default.