Recently a close friend and I got into an argument over a situation. We did not resort to name calling but it did get a little heated between the two of us. In the end we put the discussion behind us and we agreed to disagree on the idea and did not let it ruin our friendship. A majority of us believe today and that is that great teams never disagree. We see a team and we believe that they are always in sync and always get along. That is not the case.
Great teams argue, disagree and get mad but they always get along and trust one another. My friend trusted me enough to tell me how she felt, I was comfortable enough to tell her how I felt. This may sound like a bad team but really it is a characteristic of a great team. We both trusted one another enough to be open and honest, get frustrated and have an honest and real discussion. How many dysfunctional teams can do that?
Take some time to think about what you want to say next so that you do not say something that is filled with emotion. We both used this strategy and talked with intention instead of with emotion. If you feel like you need to respond right away, you are not communicating to resolve the situation or find the best situation but you are talking to win and that is an issue. Do not focus on being right focus on finding the best solution.
In the end we decided that our friendship was worth more than our disagreement and that is another characteristic of a great team. Great teams focus on the big picture, the outcome or whatever you want to call it, not their pride. They may have disagreements of how to get there and they may get mad at one another but in the end, they decide that the long-term is more important. They are able to put aside their differences and truly engage with one another. The do not hold a grudge when it does not go their way, instead they get back in the game. When a decision is made, they all agree to get behind it even if they did not win, they do not try to sabotage it, overthrow the idea or make it a failure, they give it everything they have to make the best of it.
Great teams argue, disagree and get mad but they always get along and trust one another. My friend trusted me enough to tell me how she felt, I was comfortable enough to tell her how I felt. This may sound like a bad team but really it is a characteristic of a great team. We both trusted one another enough to be open and honest, get frustrated and have an honest and real discussion. How many dysfunctional teams can do that?
Take some time to think about what you want to say next so that you do not say something that is filled with emotion. We both used this strategy and talked with intention instead of with emotion. If you feel like you need to respond right away, you are not communicating to resolve the situation or find the best situation but you are talking to win and that is an issue. Do not focus on being right focus on finding the best solution.
In the end we decided that our friendship was worth more than our disagreement and that is another characteristic of a great team. Great teams focus on the big picture, the outcome or whatever you want to call it, not their pride. They may have disagreements of how to get there and they may get mad at one another but in the end, they decide that the long-term is more important. They are able to put aside their differences and truly engage with one another. The do not hold a grudge when it does not go their way, instead they get back in the game. When a decision is made, they all agree to get behind it even if they did not win, they do not try to sabotage it, overthrow the idea or make it a failure, they give it everything they have to make the best of it.
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