The Method

The Science of Disagreement

For decades, we've treated disagreement like a problem to solve. A sign that something's broken. But what if disagreement isn't the enemy of team effectiveness? What if it's the engine?

Most teams fail not because they disagree too much or too little, but because they lack the skills to disagree effectively

The benefits of disagreement

Brainstorming solutions to wicked problems, avoiding costly errors, and staying ahead of the game require us to speak our minds. And when smart people think hard, disagreement is inevitable. Simply put, if nobody disagrees, talent is being wasted.

Research shows that teams make better decisions when members disagree but give serious consideration to each other's views. Speaking up and challenging the consensus generates new ideas, helps avoid disastrous mistakes, and builds trust.

Disagreement is the engine that keeps a great team reaching for more.

The real competitive advantage

Disagreement isn't about being difficult. It's about respecting your colleagues enough to consider their ideas, find the good and debate the bad. When done well, disagreement:

Telegraphs respect.

We don't bother disagreeing with people we don't take seriously. When you disagree, you show others you are considering their views.

Builds trust.

Teams that can handle hard conversations trust each other more, not less. Because they know no one's pretending.

Accelerates learning.

Nobody is right all the time. The best mechanism to prevent costly errors is making sure that people speak up when something seems off.

The Hidden Cost of Avoiding Disagreement

Ignoring Opposing Views Means Wasting the Insights you are Paying For

When teammates fail to speak up, their expertise is wasted. But when they speak up and get shut down, they won’t risk it again. Failing to foster a culture of constructive disagreement leaves money on the table.

When Disagreement is Swept Under the Rug, the Brightest Disengage

Vigorous debate leads to creative solutions, innovative approaches, and intellectual stimulation. When everyone pretends to agree to a mediocre approach rather than risk dissent, people with big ideas lose patience and leave.

Fear of Speaking Up Opens the Door to Disaster

Big mistakes can be prevented, crises avoided, and lives saved if we listened to the dissenting view. Failing to foster a culture where dissent is not only possible but celebrated leads to costly errors.

Why teams don’t disagree well

Decades of research show that people are wrong about disagreement. Rather than thinking of disagreement as a catalyst of novel ideas, we fear that it will lead to conflict - raised voices, damaged relationships, and career sabotage. Most of us don’t speak up because it's just not worth it.

But when teams avoid disagreement, they don't actually avoid conflict. They just push it underground. Ideas go unheard. Assumptions go unquestioned. Frustration mounts.

Some people do take risks, often bringing passion and candor to the conversation. They may play “devil’s advocate” or raise challenging questions, hoping to encourage critical thinking. But, if the tone feels adversarial, others might pull back even more.

So what’s worse? Too little disagreement? Or too much?

The real issue is a shortage of constructive disagreement - the skill of speaking your mind with both honesty and grace to leverage diverse ideas without getting mired in conflict.

A Misguided Focus

Persuasion tactics are ineffective for resolving deep-seated disagreements.

The Real Issue

We need to shift our focus from persuasion to understanding.

Insight

The Power of Disagreement in Teams

Disagreement is not a barrier; it's a catalyst for growth. Learning to navigate it effectively can transform your team's dynamics and drive performance.

How often do you feel like nobody is listening?

Have you faced resistance despite presenting clear data?

Do you hear objections only when it's too late?

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The Disagreement Paradox

Here's what's counterintuitive: Teams that disagree well have less conflict, not more.
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Because when you can surface tension early, you don't let it build into resentment. When you can test ideas openly, you don't have to relitigate decisions later. When people feel heard in the room, they don't grumble in the hallway.
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Disagreement becomes your immune system — protecting the team from bigger problems down the road.

Transform

Disagreement Isn’t a Problem. It’s a Source of Insight.

The highest-performing teams don’t shy away from disagreement. They leverage it to drive innovation and foster improved collaboration.

Unlock Potential

Use disagreement to enhance decision-making and improve team dynamics.

Build Trust

Cultivate a culture where open dialogue thrives and ideas flourish.

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Connect

three men laughing while looking in the laptop inside room

Constructive Disagreement

The science of what works

Constructive disagreement isn’t about finding compromise or becoming a better person. It is about knowing your goals and driving toward them with intention and clarity.

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Is your goal:

To prevent conflict escalation?
To understand your counterpart’s view?
To prevent a disastrous mistake?
To weigh multiple approaches?
To strengthen a relationship?
To challenge an assumption?

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Knowing your goals and developing a conversational strategy for reaching them prevents unforced errors. No more suppressing dissent out of fear. No more flying off the handle out of frustration. Our evidence-based framework trains your team to enter every conversation with intention, secure in the knowledge that they can navigate safely to the other side.

Receptive individuals fight less and learn more.

They are sought after teammates and advisors.

Through better decisions they wield more influence.

Our Research