EP 47 - How to Coach Constructive Conflict

Here are 7 ways to coach constructive conflict...

Transcript

Here are 7 ways to promote constructive conflict:

          1.       Tell the team that it’s okay to have different opinions and make sure they know how to disagree without being disagreeable.

          2.       Let everyone know that their ideas are welcome. Ask questions that make people think, and listen to what they say.

          3.       Make sure people feel respected, even if they think differently.

          4.       Bring in someone with a different point of view or appoint a devil’s advocate. They might see things in a way that no one else does.

          5.       Don’t rush decisions. Give people time to think things through.

          6.       After a decision, talk about how it went. Did everyone get to speak? Was the choice a good one? And…

          7.       Be a role model and show the team how to disagree in a good way. If they see you do it, they’ll learn how to do it too.

Remember - if you don’t promote constructive conflict, people are going to just go along to get along.