Embrace Conflict Stop working around each other

As my Digital Media Services team grew, so did the number of opinions. We all thought differently. We preferred working with certain tools or approaches. Our priorities varied. At times, it felt like we just weren’t going to be able to get along. And it was exactly how I wanted it.

A diverse team will encounter all sorts of disagreements. When these happen, don’t shy away from them. The worst argument is the one that never happens.

You can always tell a toxic team from a healthy one. Conflict abounds in a healthy team. Why? Because people are actually sharing what they believe. They care enough about the team to share those beliefs. They actually feel that they work with intelligent people who respect their worldview. These teams are actively changing things and trying to make things better.

If you find yourself on a team that never argues, chances are you are working with people working around each other rather than with each other. If you can’t get people to step up and deal with conflict, it’s time to move.

Disagreements will come up, whether you choose to share them or not. Don’t work for a team that consistently works around each other.