Investigating the Relationship among Personality Factors of Principals and Their Choice of Conflict Management Styles in the Public Schools

The conflict in an organization whether desirable or undesirable, is an indisputable fact. Conflict is bound to emerge where there are two or more people. As people interact with each other in organizations, their goals, values, and different situations cause tension. In addition to these behavioral and interpersonal factors, traditional organizational structures and increase the conflict. Educational organizations are not an exception to this fact. Since there are different people with different attitudes, conflict is an inevitable phenomenon in schools, and principals play a key role in controlling and managing the conflict. Therefore, this study investigates the personal characteristics of the principals as one of the individual factors influencing their choice of conflict resolution style. Furthermore, a comparison between the two groups of male and female principals regarding the application of conflict styles was carried out. This study shows that personality factors of adaptability and neuroticism are predictors of dominance style, personality factors of neuroticism and openness are predictors of tolerance style, and personality factor of conscientiousness is a predictor of collaboration style. Meanwhile, personality factors of adaptability and neuroticism correlate with choosing avoidance style. Also, male principals use dominance style more than female principals; principals with diploma degree use collaborative style more than others, principals with a record of 20–16 years use compromise style, principals with higher experience use tolerance style and less experienced principals use dominance style.