Troubleshooting Stress & Conflict
Core Goal: Recognize my stress signals and understand the protocol for resolving conflict or re-earning trust when challenges arise.
Stress Signals
- How will I know when you are overwhelmed?
- I will use fewer pleasantries and have a much sharper focus on the issue at hand. If my sharper language feels rude, please call it out! It is likely a symptom of my intensity on the mission, not a personal slight.
- What is the best way to support you when you’re under pressure?
- Triage and Execution: Help me triage the incoming tasks and then take ownership of items where you can make progress. I will typically default to being the “Triage Manager” and “Communication Center” during a crisis to provide air cover for the team, unless I am the SME required for the specific technical fix.
Conflict Resolution
- How do you prefer to handle disagreements?
- Address it early: Use your discretion, but I am generally comfortable calling things out and working through them in the moment, even in team meetings. However, anyone should feel comfortable asking to move a topic to a smaller group or a 1:1 if they aren’t comfortable discussing it with the full team. The most important rule is: Do not let issues simmer. Unaddressed friction erodes trust and slows the mission.
- What makes you lose trust in a colleague?
- My trust is eroded by missed promises, unplanned surprises, and decisions that reflect poor character. These elements compromise our ability to depend on each other and jeopardize the mission.
- What is the fastest way to re-earn your trust?
- Re-earning trust is a process of public accountability, commitment to change, and demonstrated follow-through. If you own the mistake, propose a plan to fix the root cause, and then consistently execute on that plan, we will move forward together.