Modifying the TKI Instructions for the Inside and Outside Perspective at Work

Ralph H. Kilmann, co-author of the Thomas-Kilmann Instrument (TKI)

The standard instructions for responding to the 30 items on the TKI are as follows: “Consider situations in which you find your wishes differing from those of another person. How do you usually respond to such situations?” Notice that no particular situation is specified in the TKI’s standard instructions, since the deliberate focus is on ALL situations that a respondent has previously encountered (or is presently experiencing).

But instead of asking participants to respond to the 30 TKI items across ALL their interpersonal situations, the standard instructions can be modified for a specified situation: “INSIDE THIS ORGANIZATION (or GROUP), when you find your wishes differing from those of another member, how do you usually respond?”

And then, with a second TKI assessment, we can ask the same participants to respond to these modified instructions: “OUTSIDE THIS ORGANIZATION (or GROUP), when you find your wishes differing from those of another person, how do you usually respond?”

NOTE: In place of ORGANIZATION or GROUP, you can insert the exact name of a particular organization, department, team, or work group.

For convenience sake, I refer to this targeted approach of having 1 or more participants each take 2 TKIs with modified instructions as: The Inside/Outside Perspective at Work.

Very often, people’s TKI Profiles (pinpointing which conflict modes might be overused or underused) vary dramatically across these two sets of modified instructions for assessing the INSIDE and OUTSIDE perspective at work. Such differences provide valuable information about the effects of the organization’s culture, the reward system, and the immediate manager’s leadership style on conflict-handling behavior in the workplace.

Once we open the door to modified TKI instructions for different purposes, many other possibilities come to mind: A classic distinction is between work life and personal life, which is a slight variation of the inside/outside perspective mentioned above. But we could also ask respondents these variations: “In client/customer situations, when you find your wishes…?” “In high-stress situations, when you find your wishes…?” “With regard to your children…?” With regard to your spouse or significant other…?” “With regard to your parents…?” “With regard to your immediate supervisor…?”

Indeed, it is up to the purpose and creativity of the facilitator to devise such specific, but crystal-clear modifications in TKI instructions in order to zero in on a particular situation. Although some people choose the same conflict modes no matter what (which is often revealed by certain modes being in the very high percentiles on the TKI Profile), other people choose very different modes in different situations. Naturally, the objective in modifying the TKI instructions is to provide a more accurate assessment — so people can improve their conflict-handling behavior and thus get their most important needs met in each and every situation.

NOTE: Other than the type of modifications suggested above, do not alter any other aspect of the standard TKI instructions, since the remainder of those instructions is essential for maintaining the validity of the TKI assessment process.

But always remember: The modified TKI instructions should always be kept clearly in mind, as you or your participants respond to all 30 items in the TKI assessment tool.

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