How to disagree without destroying team harmony

“The Value of Team Discussions” 💬 Some of the best ideas are born from debates, not silence. Working in diverse teams taught me that disagreement isn’t conflict — it’s collaboration. 🌍 Different perspectives sharpen your thinking and widen your lens.

Most teams don’t fail because they don’t know what to do. They fail because the system makes doing it too hard. When you design the environment right, action becomes effortless.

You don’t have to agree with every decision your team makes. But you do have to stop holding “meetings after the meeting.” 😅 Commitment isn’t 100% agreement — it’s 100% alignment. Real teams debate passionately in the room, then stand together outside it. No throwing people under the bus, no “well I never liked that idea anyway.” If it’s worth saying, say it in the meeting. That’s how teams stay healthy and move forward together.

💡 Lesson 162: Incentivize Collaboration, Not Just Individual Output - Systems that reward solo heroics discourage teamwork and knowledge sharing. - Daily work shows collaborative incentives improve collective outcomes. - The lesson: design rewards for shared goals and cross‑team success. - Collaborative incentives increase long‑term value creation and morale. - Wisdom: shared wins scale; solo wins seldom do.

Exceptional teams share something in common: they don’t just work together—they flow together. 🌊 From clarity in roles to shared goals, from safety to adaptability, these behaviours transform a group of individuals into a cohesive unit capable of extraordinary results. What behaviours are strongest in your team right now? And which need attention? Dive deeper into the science of team flow here: https://lnkd.in/g9ASwvv6

💡 Lesson 155: Benchmark Cross‑Team Delivery Times - Comparing delivery across teams identifies best practices and laggards. - Daily work shows relative performance reveals systemic opportunities. - The lesson: use internal benchmarks to transfer learnings quickly. - Cross‑benchmarked teams adopt high‑performing practices faster. - Wisdom: peer comparison accelerates improvement.

💡 Sam shares his top tips for committee members. Whether you’re new to the role or have years of experience, these insights reflect the teamwork and communication that make strong committees possible.

IF you’re noticing dips in team performance, or starting to feel accountability and commitment slipping away … pause and take a closer look. These aren’t just operational issues — they’re symptoms of deeper team dynamics. One resource I always recommend: “#The_Five_Dysfunctions_of_a_Team” by Patrick Lencioni. It’s a powerful guide to understanding (and fixing) the root causes that hold teams back. Small insights can spark big transformations. 📘✨

XLC recently partnered with Drees Homes for a private session led by Mike Lair on Persuading, Negotiating, and Collaborating, a key component of their Management Development Program. Through interactive discussions and hands-on activities, participants built strategies to strengthen communication and drive collaboration across teams.

Lead with #layers - Anyone else had an ambiguous leader that drove them crazy? I know I have! And, it breeds misalignment and lack of accountability. Then again, maybe that was their goal? 😎💫 That's a story for a different day! But, did you know that... Before accountability, comes a few layers in The Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team, and the order matters. ✅️Trust ✅️Conflict ✅️Commitment ✅️Accountability ✅️Results 💎 If you haven't seen the powerhouse assessment for this, let me know. I've seen a lot in the market, and this one is high-value, high-impact. #AuthorizedPartner #Assessments #Certifications #Workshops