Here’s your no-nonsense, direct advice from this episode of Fish Bag’s “All Killer, No Filler”:
Understand Team Dynamics: Every team goes through stages—forming (getting together), storming (conflict and disagreement), norming (finding solutions), performing (working at a high level), and adjourning (wrapping up). Don’t skip the “storming” stage—conflict is necessary for growth.
Embrace Conflict: Healthy teams argue! Disagreement isn’t personal—it’s about finding the best solution. If you disagree, speak up respectfully and offer alternatives. Avoiding conflict leads to stagnation and people quietly dropping out.
Build Trust: Trust your teammates’ intentions. Believe everyone wants the best outcome. This trust makes it easier to have tough conversations and reach better solutions.
Leaders: Invite Dissent: If you’re leading a meeting, actively ask for disagreements and concerns. Make space for honest feedback. If everyone always agrees, your team isn’t growing.
Reflect and Reconcile: After conflict, work to reconcile and move forward together. This deepens relationships and strengthens the team.
Practical Tip: In your next meeting, ask everyone what they agree and disagree with, and why. If no one disagrees, dig deeper—real teams challenge each other.
Bottom line: Don’t fear fighting—use it to build a stronger, more effective team.
