When workplace conflict seems to be getting in the way of the group’s progress or interfering with relationships, consider whether people are doing any of the following:
- Focusing on personalities and personal traits instead of on issues or ideas
- Arguing for positions, instead of focusing on ideas for achieving a result
- Shooting down one another’s ideas
- Being judgmental
- Trying to control the direction of the discussion
- Talking instead of listening
- Focusing on trivial points
- Going off on tangents
- Pushing for a solution or decision before everyone’s ideas have been heard