A. They ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success
B. They avoid pair work
C. They have longer meetings
D. They fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members
E. They do not focus on results
The Correct Answers are
A. They ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success
B. They fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members
Explanation
Teams that fear conflict often exhibit behaviors and characteristics that hinder their effectiveness and collaboration. Two notable characteristics of such teams are:
- They ignore controversial topics that are critical to team success: Teams that fear conflict tend to avoid discussions about sensitive or contentious issues. This avoidance can lead to unresolved problems and missed opportunities for improvement. By not addressing these critical topics, the team may struggle to make necessary decisions that impact their success and growth.
- They fail to tap into all the opinions and perspectives of team members: A fear of conflict can lead to a lack of open communication and discussion within the team. When team members are reluctant to express their thoughts and ideas, especially if they anticipate disagreement, the team misses out on diverse viewpoints that could enhance decision-making, creativity, and problem-solving.
The other options, while indicative of challenges within a team, don’t directly relate to a fear of conflict in the same way:
- They avoid pair work: Avoiding pair work might not directly result from a fear of conflict but could be related to other factors like personal preferences, the nature of the work, or organizational culture. However, in some contexts, it might indicate an avoidance of close collaboration that could reveal differences of opinion.
- They have longer meetings: Longer meetings can result from various factors, including poor agenda planning, lack of facilitation skills, or simply the complexity of the topics discussed. While fear of conflict could lead to prolonged discussions as team members dance around contentious issues, longer meetings are not a direct indicator of conflict avoidance.
- They do not focus on results: A lack of focus on results can stem from multiple issues, including unclear goals, lack of accountability, or insufficient resources. While fear of conflict can contribute to a lack of focus on results — for example, by preventing the team from addressing underperformance or challenging each other to achieve high standards — this characteristic is not as directly related to conflict avoidance as the others.
Teams that embrace healthy conflict, on the other hand, are more likely to engage in open, constructive debates that lead to better decisions, stronger relationships, and a more cohesive team dynamic.
Other SAFe Scrum Master Question – What does a Scrum Master support in order to help the team improve and take responsibility for their actions?