This document discusses team toxins and how to address them. It identifies common toxins like stonewalling, defensiveness, blaming, and contempt. Left unchecked, these toxins can create negative conflict. The document recommends being aware of toxins and preparing yourself by developing emotional intelligence. It also suggests having team working agreements and a conflict protocol in place to productively manage conflict and hold one another accountable. This will help prevent toxins from building and leading to increased conflict within the team.

1. July 12 2016

2. If left unchecked, team toxins create negative
conflict
Prepare yourself
Be aware

3. Stonewalling
Defensiveness
Blaming
Contempt
 Harsh Start-up
 Bullying
 Domination
 Personal Attacks
 Sarcasm
 Demeaning gossip
 Eye Rolling
 Undermining
 Withdrawal
 Disengagement
 Avoidance
 Not open to influence
 Refusal to take
responsibility
 Not supportive or safe

4. Group Activity
Write down your “Go-To” toxin on the provided
name tags
Wear it proudly 
Everyone get up and introduce yourself

5. Remember…
Toxins are NORMAL!
Toxins are never an excuse to tolerate
discrimination!
Diagnose yourself, NOT others.

6. Stonewalling
Defensiveness
Blaming
Contempt
 Curiosity
 Soft start up
 Personal development
and coaching
 Emotional Intelligence
 Respectful
communication
 Transparency
 Mediation
 Professional Coaching
 Curiosity
 2% Truth

7. Blaming leads to Defensiveness
Blaming leads to more Blame
Lots of toxic behaviors without intervention will
lead to more toxins!
It will build into conflict

8. Frustration
Lack of power (real or perceived)
Inability to affect change
Lack of safety

9. Work on yourself – personal mastery is a journey
Look inward
Be respectful
Does your team have:
 Working Agreements?
 Conflict Protocol?

10. Team working agreements:
 What can I be counted on for?
 When I assume you are stressed, how would you like
for me to ask you about it?
 How will I know you’re stuck?

11. Conflict Protocol:
 When conflict occurs, what behaviors do you want to
model? Not model?
 How do you want to hold each other accountable to
the Team Working Agreements?
 How do you want it to be when we’re in conflict?
 How will we surface conflict?
 What do you know about yourself in dealing with
conflict?

12. Behavior
 24 hour rule: address “it” within a day or drop “it”
 Let go of old issues or stories or conflict
 Depersonalize conflict
Culture
 Respect each other and different perspectives
 Assume positive intent
 Use humor when it gets tough or heavy

13. Toxins lead to negative conflict
Be aware – deal with it – prepare and practice
Working Agreements!
Conflict Protocol!
Hold one another accountable