What do you do if your team is constantly at odds?

Take time as a team to revisit project objectives and ensure everyone is aligned on priorities and goals. This can help create a sense of shared purpose and reduce competition.

En mi experiencia, la mejor manera de manejar esta situación, es buscando la participación constante, y con ejercicios de simulacion de casos. Que no solo permita graficar mejor la situacion, sino que el alumno tenga oportunidad de vivir situaciones más cercanas a la realidad.

In my experience, when listening to concerns,I focus on recurring themes/patterns that might point to the root cause. Are there frequent misunderstandings about project expectations? Does one person consistently feel unheard? Identifying patterns can help you diagnose the problem more accurately. Also, consider external factors. Sometimes, team discord can stem from external pressures such as tight deadlines, unclear company goals, or lack of resources. Recognizing these external factors allows you to address them alongside internal team dynamics.

Everyone has different personalities and experiences they bring to the table. When assessing a conflict, it is important to keep this in mind and reduce one's own bias. Take time to observe, listen without judgement and be critical of the situation. Truly understand and assess the problem before thinking of potential solutions.

Think about creating a safe space for everyone to vent their frustrations, share their ideas, and maybe even apologize if needed. Regular team meetings are great, but maybe add in some casual coffee chats or anonymous suggestion boxes to get people feeling more comfortable. The more everyone feels heard, the better chance you have of coming up with solutions together, instead of someone just telling everyone what to do. It's like brainstorming, but for fixing problems, and truth is, everyone has something valuable to add.

Create a space of curiosity and creativity!?? Instead of dominating discussions, invite input from everyone with a simple yet powerful question: "What do you think?" A powerful, simple question that can make people feel heard and empowered.

Promote dialogue, but make sure the rules are established before, especially when there is a conflict. Make sure team members do not attack each other, use I statements, clear examples, etc. Make sure each team members feels heard and seen, no interruptions are done when someone is speaking, and that every voice is truly heard.

It's true, having clear expectations is like having a shared team contract. Everyone knows how to play the game fairly. But ground rules shouldn't feel stuffy or imposed from above. Get the team involved in creating these rules together. When people participate in making the rules, they're more likely to stick to them. Enforce the rules gently at first, with friendly reminders. But if someone consistently breaks a rule, address it privately and directly. The goal is to create a supportive environment, not a punitive one. By working together on the ground rules, you're laying the foundation for a much smoother teamwork experience.

As mentioned before, having ground rules is crucial. This will set the boundaries, and result - hopefully - in a fair, open and honest exchange. The team can also be involved in making these rules, as long as they are relevant. Simply making the rules is not enough - they also have to be consistently reinforced.

It's easy to get stuck down in daily tasks and lose sight of the bigger picture. That's when disagreements over seemingly small things can blow up. But when everyone remembers why they're working hard in the first place, it can be like a magic reset button. So get your team talking about the "why" behind their work. What impact are they making? How does their role contribute to the overall mission? Suddenly, those minor squabbles seem a lot less important when you're all fired up about achieving something awesome together.

Everyone on your team is good at something different. Maybe someone is good at organizing, while another is full of creative ideas. By figuring out what each person does best, you can give them tasks they'll enjoy and excel at. This makes them feel confident and shows them how important they are to the team's success. It's like putting the right puzzle piece in the right spot - everything works better when everyone uses their strengths!

If internal efforts do not work, it is an option to invite a neutral third party, where everyone in the team feels this party is unbiased and has their best interests and goals in mind. Additionally, mediators are experiences in resolving conflicts, which can provide great benefits to you and your team.

I take the helm to navigate us through the storm. First, I ensure everyone feels heard—organizing a safe space for open dialogue, where each member can voice concerns without fear of judgment. Listening is key; I genuinely seek to understand the root causes of our conflicts. I advocate for empathy, encouraging the team to see from each other's perspectives, breaking down barriers of misunderstanding. Finding common ground becomes my mission, highlighting our shared goals and how our differences can actually enrich our path there. I introduce team-building activities that foster trust and camaraderie, subtly reminding us of our collective strengths. Throughout, I remain patient, impartial, and supportive.

As a leader, look to yourself first of all. What direction and clarity are you bringing or withholding that might be contributing. Yes create space for exploration and discussion but feedback should not exclude your part - it is also about you.