What REALLY Creates Conflict in Teams
- Stéphane AVJ Courtemanche
- Apr 22
- 1 min read
We often associate conflict with loud arguments or visible tension.But in the teams I support, the most damaging conflicts are quiet.
They’re invisible, chronic, and unspoken — and they rarely come from a clear disagreement.
They emerge from unclear expectations, ambiguous roles, and repeated small wounds. I often see:
🔹 1. Unspoken expectationsNo one says what they really want — everyone guesses.Inevitably: disappointment and frustration.
🔹 2. Undefined rolesTwo people think they own the same task.Or worse — no one owns it.Confusion, resentment, or subtle power struggles follow.
🔹 3. Accumulated silence“It’s not a big deal…” until it is.The final explosion often has little to do with the surface topic.
🔹 4. A leader who hopes “it will sort itself out”Avoidance isn't neutrality.Lack of structure gives space for unspoken tensions to grow.
🎯 It's not disagreement that hurts teams.It's the lack of a safe, shared space to address it.
Next:👉 How to defuse a conflict — without avoiding or overpowering.
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