How to deal with conflict effectively: Disagree and commit

@ Team

Introduction

Conflicts within teams are inevitable. I’ve encountered too many time where I need to explain the concept of “Disagree and Commit.” Therefore, I am restuding this and writing an article to promote it.

What Does Disagree and Commit Mean?

Consensus is cozy, but broad agreement is not our aim. The right decision is. Which is why we take the time to think, debate, persuade, listen and reconsider and then, someone, decides. If you disagree, that’s fine, but once the decision is made, it’s time to commit and support it completely. ── 37signals

The ideal conflict does not require compromising to please others, nor should it prioritize individuals over matters. Instead, it should:

  1. Align team goals with the problems to be solved.
  2. Encourage discussions to make better decisions.
  3. Set deadlines for discussions and establish decision deadlines.
  4. Execute without criticism.

Instead of arguing for a long time only to find out that the team does not share a common goal or problem to solve, engaging in blame and complaints afterward will not help teams achieve their objectives. Everyone should take the opportunity to speak up at the right moment while considering the bigger picture to move the team forward.

Conclusion

My interpretation of Disagree and Commit basically is: Discuss more, set deadlines, and avoid hindsight criticism.

  1. Encourage evidence-based discussions.
  2. Set deadlines.
  3. Avoid raising opinions or solutions only after a decision is finalized.

For a more detailed discussion of methods, check out my other article: Describing Consensus: Goals, Problems, Solutions.

Further Reading