Stop Trying To Resolve 69% of Your Agile Team Conflicts

Did you know conflict is inevitable and usually can’t be resolved, 69% of the time to be exact? Here are the 10 best conflict resolution tips from Julia and John Gottmans’ 2024 book, Fight Right. Just in time for your next team retro!

Mohamed Nohassi, Unsplash+. Digital render (not AI-generated); used with permission (Unsplash+ license).

If you’re anything like me, you always seem to end up in conflicts in the workplace.

As far as a strategy for career success, getting stuck in conflicts would seem to be the worst advice possible.

But most of our problems around conflict — and the hurt feelings that result — don’t get resolved by avoiding it.

Instead, we have to accept that while conflict is inevitable, most conflicts won’t get resolved, and active listening must occur before convincing or negotiating.

At least, that’s all true for couples who want to avoid divorce over stupid fights (“You loaded the dishwasher wrong, again!”) — so it will also work for your agile team.

Let’s dive in!

Tip 1: Conflict Is Inevitable; 69% Are Perpetual