Signs of Conflict Within an Agile Team

Conflict is a natural part of any team dynamic. When you were eight years old, playing Little League baseball, you probably noticed conflict. Perhaps there was a bully on the team who bullied other kids. Maybe you were a shy kid who was upset with some of the players but kept your feelings to yourself. Now that you're an adult working on an agile team, those same conflict patterns still exist. Having healthy conflict is necessary for a productive team, but what happens when conflict transitions from healthy to unhealthy?

There's a hidden cost to unresolved conflict: productivity suffers, morale declines, and team members may not feel psychologically safe. By identifying conflicts on your team early, you can get your team on a healthy path forward.

The nature of conflict in agile teams

Most types of conflict that arise within an agile team are natural, healthy, and expected. Agile teams are all about collaboration, and having differing viewpoints is what makes a team great, often leading to creativity and innovation. The team's ability to respectfully address conflict openly and transparently moves them forward. When a team works together but avoids collaboration (which can involve times of conflict), you merely have a group of people; that's not a team. 

Collaboration isn't something that comes easily to everyone. A lot of our formative years in school teach us to work as individuals. Our college degrees teach us how to be a programmer or a project manager, but the soft skills related to working on a team are often neglected or treated as an afterthought. 

To collaborate effectively, an agile team needs transparent communication, a willingness to understand others' perspectives, and an open mind. Conflict in a team can stem from differences in values, work goals, communication styles, and a lack of role clarity. But not all conflict is destructive. Constructive conflict can drive innovation.

Below are warning signs that your team's conflict may be unhealthy. Use this simple checklist to review your team:

Decreased communication

• Team members are avoiding each other or withholding input.
• Silence in meetings or a drop in feedback loops.

Passive-aggressive behavior

• Sarcasm, subtle digs, or indirect resistance.
• Missed deadlines without clear communication.

Escalated emotions

• Frequent frustration, visible tension, or emotional outbursts.
• Irritability over minor issues.

Decision-making gridlock

• Inability to reach a consensus.
• Repeated revisiting of previously settled issues.

Factions or cliques forming

• "Us vs. them" mentality among team members.
• Private discussions that exclude certain members.

Drop in performance and engagement

• Missed sprints, reduced collaboration, and low motivation.
• Increased absenteeism or team turnover.

If you checked any of the above items, your team is showing signs of unhealthy conflict. Now is the time to take notice before it becomes more problematic.

Why early detection matters

It's easier to adjust the course when you're one degree off than after you've sailed miles in the wrong direction. Therefore, early detection of conflict is crucial for maintaining (and improving) team trust, happiness, and productivity.

Bad team habits, such as a lack of trust, avoidance, or passive-aggressive behavior, can be harder to break the longer they've been going on. Identifying these signs as early as possible will keep your team communication strong, resulting in a happier, healthier, and more productive team.

Strengthen your team with conflict management skills

Learning conflict management skills is essential for everyone in the organization, not just the scrum master. Product owners, contributors, and stakeholders should all be able to identify unhealthy conflict and change its course. Conflict management skills that everyone in the organization should understand are:

• Conflict triggers
• Honing de-escalation techniques
• Understanding the importance of psychological safety

By recognizing the triggers that cause team conflicts and having the tools in your toolbox to de-escalate contentious situations, your team will have psychological safety. Psychological safety is crucial for openness and trust, which are characteristics of a great team that delivers value. The earlier you can recognize and address the signs of conflict on your team, the easier it will be to course-correct negative behaviors and build a winning team.

Learn how to navigate conflict

Discover more about team dynamics and conflict resolution in the Conflict Management Skills microcredential course, developed by an experienced Certified Scrum Trainer with expertise in conflict management and resolution.