Healthy Conflict

Healthy conflict makes room for different perspectives and is about working together to solve a common problem instead of pitting opinions against each other. The disagreements should be about how to achieve a solution, not personal or the goal itself.

  • Start with an understanding of the goals of each person. Ask and understand. Acknowledge where these goals may be in conflict. Ask "Where are you coming from on this?" You can't have healthy conflict without driving for alignment on goals first.
  • Strong opinions, loosely held. Be prepared to change if new information supersedes.
  • Healthy conflict is when we are all focused on delivering value to the customer, and our only disagreement is how best to achieve that.
  • Collaboration and healthy conflict go hand in hand.