Great leadership teams engage in open, candid and often passionate discussions – all with the goal of making the best decisions for the business. But, as we all know, these discussions can be really difficult to have in productive ways. Why? Human nature tends to view conflict as an attack, so we often go into “fight or flight” mode to protect ourselves. This can happen subconsciously, without us even realizing it. Once in defense mode, conversations get heated, teammates stop listening or shut down, some talk louder in an attempt to win, and no real problems are solved or ideas uncovered.
Has your team found a way to break through the tendency to revert to artificial harmony or see one another as trying to undermine or criticize? Many teams I work with have not.
As with many things in life, a key to ensuring team conversations are healthy and productive is to control what you can control – which, in this case, is your mindset. The Conscious Leadership Group has a simple but incredibly powerful tool to help: a simple black line.
Above the Line =
- Open
- Curious
- Committed to Learning
Below the Line =
- Closed
- Defensive
- Committed to Being Right
Heading into a team meeting or conversation, I suggest each team member intentionally asks themselves “where am I?”, and have a thoughtful answer to whether you’re above or below the line. As things start to feel heated or sensitive, it’s helpful to again acknowledge to ourselves where we are (and why). This simple mindset check – if leveraged by all team members – can lead to teams showing up with purpose and positive intention, allowing for the type of productive conflict teams must engage in to ensure perspectives are heard and challenged, and the best decisions made for the business.