What do you do if conflicts arise within your blockchain team?

Start by identifying the underlying reasons behind the conflict. Is it due to differences in opinions, misunderstandings, or competing priorities? Understanding the root cause of the conflict is crucial for developing an appropriate resolution strategy.

Most usual problems I identify are: - User experience expectations: Managing private keys, supported wallets, ease of on boarding, etc. - Technical problems origin. Sometimes happens with integration libraries like ethers, web3js, web3J in frontend or backend. Other times the error come from the deployed Smart Contract.

As a blockchain architect, I once navigated a conflict within my team over choosing a consensus mechanism for our project—Proof of Work (PoW) versus Proof of Stake (PoS). The debate, initially technical, uncovered deeper communication and personal bias issues. By facilitating open dialogue, consulting external experts, and prioritizing our project's goals, we developed a hybrid solution that combined the strengths of both mechanisms. This experience taught us the importance of addressing the roots of a conflict, be they technical, communicational, or personal, and reinforced the value of collaboration and flexibility in achieving innovative solutions.

Actively listen to all parties involved in the conflict and empathize with their perspectives. Encourage open communication and create a safe space for team members to express their concerns, feelings, and viewpoints without fear of judgment or reprisal. Validating their emotions and experiences can help de-escalate tensions and foster a sense of mutual understanding.

All the process must be clear for everyone: What is the expected product, the user flow, etc.? All the team members must be aligned and share the end objective, to implement their layer in the global solution.

In a challenging phase of our blockchain project, I focused on resolving team conflicts by actively listening and empathizing. Instead of directing solutions, I engaged each member individually, asking open-ended questions to understand their views and concerns deeply. This approach shifted our dynamics from contentious to collaborative, fostering a culture of trust and mutual respect. By truly valuing each person's input, we found common ground more easily, strengthening our team's cohesion and paving the way for a unified path forward.

We loose too much time trying to identify the guilty. Problem identified ? Let’s define the solution for it, and who’s going to fix it. Do not focus on the person, avoid unnecessary friction that will damage the team environment.

Shift the focus from blame or finger-pointing to finding constructive solutions to the conflict. Encourage collaborative problem-solving and brainstorming sessions where team members can work together to identify potential solutions and compromises. Emphasize the importance of finding common ground and reaching a resolution that benefits the team as a whole.

During a dispute within our blockchain project team, we pivoted our focus towards solutions rather than lingering on the issues. We organized brainstorming sessions where every team member could propose ideas on how to proceed. This inclusive approach allowed us to evaluate various options and negotiate trade-offs, keeping our common goals in sight. By striving for win-win solutions that respected everyone's needs and interests, we not only resolved the conflict but also unlocked new avenues for innovation and value creation in our project. This solutions-focused mindset proved crucial in steering our team through challenges and towards our collective objectives.

Lessons learned must be documented in the playbook. All the project stakeholders have their own vision, but all of the must converge around the same idea, mostly in an iterative way.

After resolving the conflict, gather feedback from team members to assess the effectiveness of the resolution process and identify areas for improvement. Reflect on the lessons learned from the conflict and explore ways to prevent similar issues from arising in the future. Use this feedback to refine your conflict resolution strategies and strengthen team dynamics over time.

After resolving a conflict within our blockchain team, I sought out feedback to learn and improve. I asked team members for their honest opinions on the resolution process and welcomed their critiques. This initiative helped me grow as a developer and strengthened our team's performance. Embracing feedback and committing to continuous improvement became key to our success, enhancing our adaptability and resilience in the fast-paced world of blockchain development.

From the experience with the different teams I've been working, specially after pandemics with the surge of telework, one of the most useful tools we've come to find and handle are the "peace rooms". They came as a replica to the more common" war rooms" that most teams enjoy defining to handle their work, and are fully dedicated to spend time together, as a team, tackling matters different than those about the required work. They have become a safe space were team mingles horizontally and with "no-role-hats" on, so they tend to alleviate some of the social pressure created by the stress of the delivery.

GitHub is great for managing code updates, with different branches for working in specific areas and reales incremental versions. From Trello for simple Kanban, to Jira for a more complex agile project management, there are different tools to prioritize and distribute tasks with the team. It also helps to draw a big picture of the project, and its timing, deadlines, etc.

To resolve a conflict in our blockchain project, we utilized key tools and resources to enhance team efficiency. GitHub facilitated our code collaboration, while Slack improved communication. Trello helped organize tasks, and Smart Contracts ensured adherence to project rules. These tools significantly reduced misunderstandings and streamlined our workflow, allowing us to focus on innovation and effectively move our project forward.

When a persistent conflict in our blockchain project couldn't be resolved internally, we sought external help. Bringing in a mediator offered a fresh, impartial perspective that was crucial in breaking the deadlock. This third-party assistance not only helped us navigate the dispute but also provided valuable insights and professional advice, guiding us toward a constructive resolution. The intervention of an external expert proved instrumental in overcoming the crisis, allowing our team to move forward with renewed focus and understanding.

Technical disagreements often fuel conflict. Set up a clear decision-making process early on. Is it majority vote, consensus, or do you as the leader make the final call? Knowing this ahead of time keeps things from escalating.