Presenter
Phillip Sandahl
You will learn a process for creating team agreements around conflict—sometimes referred to as the “rules of engagement”. We will look at specific action steps that defuse conflict, and create fundamental alignment. You will learn ways to increase positivity in conflict, ways to separate the message from the messenger, and listening techniques that support team diversity. You will learn ways to build a stronger, more resilient and more creative team culture.
Key Takeaways
- 1.The best-performing teams have found ways to engage in open disagreement without creating casualties.
- 2.The fear of conflict can be as damaging to a team over time as an open eruption.
- 3.Psychological safety is a necessary condition for rich interaction and engagement on teams.
- 4.Teams can use practical steps to shift from hardened positions to collaborative alignment.
- 5.Leaders can guide discussions to constructive ends by establishing clear ground rules for respectful debate.
- 6.Constructively managed disagreement is a catalyst for creativity and improved performance.
Turning Team Conflict into a Catalyst for Creativity
Conflict on teams is as inevitable as human interaction. Whether it manifests as open disagreement, a tense minefield, or a poisonous undercurrent, friction is a constant. However, when managed constructively, these differing points of view can become a source of creativity and strength. International team coach Phillip Sandahl explains that on the best teams, open disagreement and whole-hearted expression lead to innovation, not casualties.
This session moves beyond the theory that conflict is damaging, exploring how the fear of it can be just as corrosive to a team's performance over time. The focus is on practical, actionable strategies any team can use to transform potential battles into breakthroughs.
Building the Foundation for Constructive Disagreement
The cornerstone of a high-performing team is an environment of psychological safety. Without it, team members will not engage in the rich interaction required for success. This webinar details the conditions necessary to build this safety, which include:
- Encouraging Participation: Creating a space where all voices feel empowered to contribute.
- Establishing Ground Rules: Setting clear norms for respectful debate and active listening.
- Modeling Vulnerability: Leaders who demonstrate open communication set the standard for the entire team.
Practical Steps for Shifting to Alignment
Once a foundation of safety is established, teams can learn techniques to move from entrenched positions to collaborative alignment. This involves guiding discussions toward constructive ends, focusing on issues rather than personalities. Leaders can apply several methods:
- Shifting members from hardened, individual positions to a shared team alignment.
- Implementing regular team check-ins to identify and address potential friction early.
- Using structured problem-solving techniques to navigate an impasse.
By applying these principles, leaders and teams can build lasting bridges, enhance trust, and transform the energy of conflict into a powerful driver of innovation and growth.
Handling team conflict effectively is crucial for innovation and success. This session explores how diverse perspectives and disagreements, when managed constructively, can lead to stronger outcomes rather than fractured relationships. It addresses the enduring challenge of turning potential team friction into a catalyst for creativity and improved performance.
What you'll learn
- Strategies for fostering psychological safety within teams.
- Techniques to encourage open disagreement without devolving into personal attacks.
- Methods for shifting team members from entrenched positions to collaborative alignment.
- Practical steps to build lasting bridges among team members, enhancing trust and communication.
- How to recognize and address both overt and subtle forms of team conflict.
Who this webinar is for
- Leaders and managers looking to improve team dynamics and productivity.
- HR professionals focusing on organizational development and team coaching.
- Team members seeking to contribute more effectively and resolve workplace disagreements constructively.
- Anyone interested in creating a culture where diverse viewpoints lead to innovation.
Why it matters now
Effective conflict management remains a cornerstone of high-performing teams, especially in today's complex and fast-paced work environments. The ability to navigate differing opinions and harness their energy for positive outcomes prevents stagnation and fosters a culture of continuous improvement. Organizations that excel at this build stronger, more resilient teams capable of adapting to change and seizing new opportunities. Ignoring conflict or allowing it to fester can lead to disengagement, reduced productivity, and staff turnover, making these principles more relevant than ever.
How leaders can apply this
Leaders can immediately apply insights from this webinar by actively promoting an environment of psychological safety where team members feel comfortable expressing diverse opinions. Phillip Sandahl's approach helps leaders guide discussions to constructive ends, ensuring that disagreements strengthen team bonds rather than weaken them. Practical steps include:
- Establishing clear ground rules for respectful debate.
- Mediating discussions to focus on issues, not personalities.
- Encouraging active listening and empathy among team members.
- Implementing regular team check-ins to address potential friction early.
- Modeling vulnerability and open communication themselves to set the team standard.
- Using structured problem-solving techniques to move past impasse. Applying these methods can transform potential team battles into opportunities for growth and innovation.
About this session
Key takeaways
Watching this webinar gives you grounded, practical perspective on Teamwork. Expect ideas you can use in leadership conversations, not abstract theory, drawn from Phillip Sandahl's direct experience.
Who this is for
CHROs, HR business partners, talent leaders, executive coaches, organizational development practitioners, and senior leaders who are responsible for systemic collaboration inside their organization.
Why it matters now
Workforce expectations, hybrid work patterns, and AI-driven change keep raising the bar on culture and leadership. Sessions like this help leaders make smarter, more evidence-informed decisions about Teamwork.
How to apply it
Use the ideas here to challenge a current assumption on your team, design a single concrete experiment in the next 30 days, and bring one finding back to your leadership group for discussion.
Frequently asked questions
Topics