Create a conflict protocol
Creating a conflict protocol is a powerful way to navigate disagreements within a team. It's essentially a set of guidelines that everyone agrees on for handling conflict, ensuring that discussions remain constructive and don't harm team dynamics.
Here's how to craft one effectively:
- Purpose: Define the why behind your team. What brings you together? What's your collective goal? This could be as straightforward as "to innovate and value each diverse perspective."
- Perspective: Decide how your team views conflict. Agreeing to assume positive intent and approach disagreements with curiosity can transform how you tackle challenges.
- Principles: Establish core values like kindness, empathy, or trust. These act as your north star during disagreements.
- Practices: Spell out specific actions to address conflict, like asking open-ended questions to deepen understanding.[1]
Pro Tip: Prepare "what-if" plans for when conflicts escalate, ensuring your team knows the next steps and resources available.