Overview
This article explores why the majority of team conflicts stem from misunderstandings between engineers and provides a step-by-step approach for technical leaders to de-escalate and resolve disagreements before they impact delivery.
Key Takeaways
- Identify the underlying assumption causing the conflict.
- Apply a structured 3-step dialogue: facts, impact, desired outcome.
- Use data-driven decision making to keep discussions objective.
- Establish clear follow-up actions and ownership.
- Foster a culture where healthy dissent is encouraged but managed.
Who Would Benefit
- Engineering managers handling frequent disagreements.
- Senior engineers acting as informal mediators.
- CTOs looking to improve team cohesion.
- Technical leads responsible for sprint planning and delivery.
Frameworks and Methodologies
- Interest-Based Relational (IBR) approach.
- Root Cause Analysis (5 Whys).
- Structured Decision Making (SDM) checklist.
- Psychological Safety framework.