Imagine a single grain of grit sneaks into your shoe. It’s minor at first—a little rub against the back of your heel, that’s hardly worth stopping for. But with each step, it digs in deeper, slowly wearing into the material at the back on the heel. Eventually, that small irritation can tear a hole in the shoe, weakening its structure and trashing a good shoe. Teams face a similar threat when it comes to unresolved conflicts. At first, a slight misunderstanding or difference in approach might seem trivial, but if left unaddressed, these issues can gradually tear at the fabric of trust and collaboration leaving a once-strong team frayed and less effective.
In Gallup’s Theme Thursday Season 6 Podcast for Managers and Teams: They talk all about ‘The Five Truths of Strong Teams’ and offer insights into handling conflict within teams. The first truth is that
“Conflict doesn’t need to tear teams apart, as strong teams focus on results.”
Instead of letting conflicts weaken them, resilient teams turn friction into fuel for improvement by keeping their eye on shared goals. This focus on results allows team members to put aside personal irritations and channel their energy toward achieving something bigger than their individual perspectives.
A strengths-based approach like CliftonStrengths can make a world of difference in managing these “grains of grit.” By focusing on each person’s unique talents, team members can approach conflicts with understanding and respect, turning small frictions into productive discussions. Here are a few CliftonStrengths themes that can support teams in handling friction.
Command: Leading Conflict Resolution with Decisiveness
The Command talent excels when a clear, assertive approach is needed. Those with Command readily address challenges head-on, bringing focus and clarity by tackling difficult issues directly.
- Direct Issue Resolution: People with Command highlight and address tensions early, helping the team confront issues before they escalate. Their straightforwardness keeps misunderstandings from spiralling and ensures everyone is aligned on what’s at stake.
- Instilling Confidence and Trust: Their confident approach sets a positive example, encouraging others to speak up. This straightforwardness fosters a safe space for open conversations, reducing the likelihood of issues simmering below the surface.
Ideation: Turning Tension into Opportunity
People with Ideation thrive on creativity and possibility, seeing conflict as an opportunity for new ideas and solutions.
- Reframing Friction: Ideators view friction as a spark for improvement. They encourage the team to think creatively, asking questions like, “What can we learn from this challenge?” or “What solutions could this inspire?” This mindset turns potential frustrations into opportunities for team development.
- Promoting Curiosity and Flexibility: Ideation talents bring a spirit of curiosity, helping the team explore alternatives and stay open to new approaches. This open-mindedness allows for a smoother transition from conflict to collaborative problem-solving.
Achiever: Keeping Progress on Track
The Achiever talent focuses on productivity and forward momentum, making it a powerful asset when conflicts threaten team progress.
- Maintaining Forward Motion: Achievers help the team stay focused on shared goals, reminding everyone that resolving friction is essential to progress. Their commitment to daily accomplishments encourages teammates to overcome small obstacles rather than getting stuck.
- Modelling Resilience: Achievers show resilience by continuing to push forward, even when challenges arise. This determination can be motivating, inspiring others to address issues constructively and keep the team moving.
Harmony: Building Consensus and Calm
Harmony talent seeks to defuse tension and build consensus, guiding the team toward mutual understanding and cooperation.
- Easing Tensions Thoughtfully: Harmony’s sensitivity to discord allows them to act as a bridge, helping everyone feel heard and acknowledged. This talent steers the group toward practical, collective solutions, preventing small issues from growing into larger conflicts.
- Reinforcing Unity: People with Harmony often facilitate a more collaborative approach by reminding the team of shared goals. By focusing on what everyone has in common, they encourage teammates to move past differences and realign on their objectives, keeping the team united and focused on the bigger picture.
Communication: Enabling Clear and Constructive Dialogue
Communication strengths are essential for articulating ideas and facilitating open discussions, especially when conflict arises.
- Encouraging Inclusive Dialogue: Those with Communication talent lead discussions that allow each person to share their perspective. Their ability to articulate diverse viewpoints helps the team gain a fuller understanding of issues, leading to balanced and effective solutions.
- Reframing Positively: Communicators have a knack for reframing situations, using different language, images and metaphors. They can help turn friction into a productive discussion by focusing on the shared purpose behind each viewpoint, keeping the focus on the team’s collective goals rather than individual grievance
Individualization: Valuing Each Person’s Strengths
The Individualization talent appreciates the unique qualities of each team member, a critical asset when conflicts arise from differing personalities or working styles.
- Adapting Solutions to Individuals: Those with Individualization know that different people require different approaches. They tailor conflict resolution to each individual’s needs, ensuring that all voices are heard and respected.
- Celebrating Differences: By acknowledging each team member’s strengths, Individualization fosters an environment where diversity is valued. This respect for individuality reduces friction, creating a culture where differences enhance the team’s overall performance.
Each of these talents brings a unique strength to resolving conflicts constructively. Together, they ensure that tensions within the team are addressed proactively, transforming potential obstacles into opportunities for stronger collaboration and shared success.
Turning Friction into a Force for Good
To prevent conflict from tearing a team apart, we encourage teams to be proactive, taking steps to clear out potential “grains of grit” before they wear down morale and productivity. Open communication is critical, or things typically fester and grow.
Here are a few practical ways to foster a results-focused, strengths-based culture that turns conflict into a constructive force:
- Encourage regular check-ins – Set aside time for the team to discuss any small irritations or misunderstandings. These check-ins create a safe space for people to express concerns before they build up and create unnecessary tension. This can be one on one or in groups. Using platforms like Menti allow for anonymous views to be shared giving the group a pulse check.
- Practice feedback loops – Cultivate a culture where feedback is expected, welcomed, and seen as a part of everyone’s growth. This ensures that small frictions are regularly addressed in a constructive way, building a stronger sense of team cohesion. Feedback should be given for recognition as well as constructive conversations, which again helps build trust and a stronger emotional bank account.
- Recognise strengths in others – When team members understand and appreciate each other’s strengths, they’re better able to navigate conflicts with greater understanding and respect. Rather than seeing differences as a source of friction, strengths awareness helps teams see them as complementary. Remembering the guiding principles of CliftonStrengths that ‘Differences are an Advantage’
Focus on the Goal to Stay Strong
As this first ‘Truth’ reminds us, conflict doesn’t need to tear a team apart—strong teams stay focused on the results they want to achieve together. By keeping this shared purpose in mind, even “grains of grit” that might otherwise wear away at morale can become opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Navigating brewing tensions within teams is crucial for maintaining trust, open communication, and focus on collective goals. Thoughtful questions can help team members express their concerns, understand each other’s perspectives, and find constructive solutions. Here are some questions to consider:
- “What’s important to each of us in this situation?”
- “How do you see this issue impacting the team’s overall goals?”
- “Is there anything you feel strongly about that we might not be considering?”
- “How would you describe the ideal outcome in this situation?”
Ultimately, just as we would stop to remove a stone from our shoe to prevent it from causing damage, it’s essential to address frictions early on. What “grains of grit” could you clear out of your team today to keep the journey smooth and focused? Clearing these irritations, however small, ensures a stronger, more resilient team, ready to face the road ahead together.
