Healthy Conflict and the 4-Player Model

Kantor's 4-Player model for healthy conflict

Transcript

1. HEALTHY CONFLICT AND THE 4-PLAYER MODEL
2. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY ‘HEALTHY CONFLICT’?
3. WHAT IS HEALTHY CONFLICT? [Teams] that engage in productive conflict know that the only purpose is to produce the best possible solution in the shortest period of time. They discuss and resolve issues more quickly and completely than others, and they emerge from heated debates with no residual feelings or collateral damage, but with an eagerness and readiness to take on the next important issue. — Patrick Lencioni, ‘The Five Dysfunctions of a Team’
4. ENCOURAGING HEALTHY CONFLICT The whole team (but especially facilitators, e.g. Scrum Masters) should consider a few methods: ‘Conflict mining’ Real-time permission Kantor’s ‘4-player model’
5. THE 4-PLAYER MODEL Move Oppose Follow Bystand
6. THE ‘MOVE’ ACT Move — This act establishes a direction and sets the team in motion. Example: “Let's build Product X. Product X is the best idea out there.”
7. THE ‘FOLLOW’ ACT Follow — The follow act provides support for the move and serves the function of completion. Example: “I agree with the arguments you've made. Product X is the way to go.”
8. THE ‘OPPOSE’ ACT Oppose — The oppose act questions the move that has been initiated. Example: “The data don't support your claims. We'll be in real trouble if we go with Product X.”
9. THE ‘BYSTAND’ ACT Bystand — Bystanding provides perspective and invites the team to be more reflective. A bystander might bring in data from another team, an historic perspective, or some insight about the operations of the team itself. Example: “We tried some of these same ideas two years ago and they didn't work. What do we think has changed?”
10. WHY CONFLICT IS HEALTHY Without a mover, the team lacks direction. Without followers, work cannot be completed. Without an opposer, legitimate concerns are ignored. Without a bystander, we lose perspective and fail to explore all the angles.
11. APPLYING THE MODEL You (and also facilitators) should: Be aware of your own tendencies. Strike a balance. Cite the acts.