Conflict in the workplace is never as easy as it seems. Great teams learn to identify the real problem in the scope of the big picture.
Talking Points:
- The Tree: The tree is the problem that looms larger than life before the team. Good teams work together until the tree is attacked and eliminated.
- The Shoots: The shoots are the seedlings born of the great oak’s acorns. Each one is a tree in the making, able to grow long after the oak is chopped down.
- The Soil: The soil is the culture of your team – emotions, relationships, character, habits – that created the conditions for your problem in the first place. Great teams attack the soil, not just the tree.
Discussion Questions:
- Initial reactions to this topic? What jumped out at you?
- Identify a “tree” you’re dealing with right now as a team. On a scale of 1-10, how big of a roadblock is it to accomplishing your mission?
- Is your tree the “shoot” of an early problem, or did it grow up on its own? Explain.
- Identify a few “shoots” that are coming to surface because of your current tree. Make a list.
- What are some “soil” problems that exist on your team (lack of emotional or relational health, poor character or habits). How long has your team struggled with those problems, and when did they start?
- Is there a step you need to take based on today’s topic?
