How to Handle Four Common Types of Team Conflict
| Conflict on a team is inevitable, and it can manifest in four distinct ways. Here’s what each type of conflict looks like and how to resolve it. Individual-level conflict is when one team member is difficult, disengaged, loves playing devil’s advocate, or generally causes tension on the team. If your team experiences this kind of conflict, make sure you don’t scapegoat or gang up on the individual. Instead, start by asking them sincere questions to try to understand their perspective and build empathy toward them. Dyad conflict is when tension, conflict, or animosity between two individuals affects the rest of the team. In this situation, mediation may help. Meet with each individual separately and then together to let them express their feelings and come to a resolution. Subgroup conflict is when two subgroups within the team are in opposition, each with a different goal, project, or outcome. The best way to handle this scenario is to bring in an external mediator to challenge the group’s thinking, presenting compromises or alternate options. Team-wide conflict is when everyone is in disagreement, usually in response to poor team performance. To resolve this kind of conflict, return to the basics: Reemphasize the team’s overall goal, vision, and identity. |
| This tip is adapted from “4 Common Types of Team Conflict—and How to Resolve Them,” by Randall S. Peterson et al. |
