How we think about disagreement and conflict

How we differ

How we differ is about how you handle disagreement and conflict at work. It is often avoided or unclear, yet it heavily impacts communication, psychological safety, and team performance.

What this culture area means

How we differ is about how you handle disagreement and conflict at work. It is often avoided or unclear, yet heavily impacts communication, psychological safety, and performance.

How it is operationalised

Documented core values and operating principles (org-wide)
Team charters (team by team) including how we disagree

Design and reset

Org-wide: document in values and behaviours, then embed via performance management, feedback, and 1:1s.

Team by team: use a team charter canvas and dedicate space to "when we disagree, how do we move forward?" Seed real talk: if someone is not pulling weight, if feedback needs to come from someone other than the obvious person.

Managing conflict when it happens

Use playbooks for crunchy scenarios you know you will face. Combine documented values, team charters, and structured facilitation for difficult conversations.

Psychological safety is the foundation: people need to believe disagreement will not cost them their standing on the team.

Useful resources

Playbooks, templates, and reference material to help you design and fix this culture area.

Working Through Conflict playbook

Members

Three scenario-based toolkits for common conflict situations.

Open Org Workspace membership required. You will be asked to sign in.

Conflict Resolution 101 for startups

Practical guide to conflict in fast-moving teams.

Conflict Management Canvas

Fearless Culture tool for diagnosing and resolving conflict.

Nonviolent Communication template

Miro template for difficult conversations.

Psychological safety explained

Foundation reading for healthy disagreement.