Passive-aggressive behavior is an indirect expression of hostility through resentment or resistance rather than direct confrontation. It develops when people do not feel safe to disagree in their environment. Passive-aggressive organizations are insular and resistant to change. To address passive-aggressive behavior, one should accept that conflict happens, understand people's needs, focus on solutions rather than faults, and encourage openness and direct addressing of issues.

1. Passive-aggressive
behaviour

2. Question # 1
What is
passive-aggressive behaviour?

3. Passive aggressive behaviour is a deliberate and masked
way to express anger.
It involves a variety of behaviours designed to get back
at another person without the other recognizing the
underlying anger.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/passive-aggressive-diaries/201601/6-steps-confront-passive-aggressive-behavior

4. Passive-aggressiveness is the indirect expression
of hostility.
It can take the form of a negative attitude such as
resentment. It can also manifest in resistance.
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

5. The default mind-set at a passive-aggressive organization
is defensiveness.
People feel they need to “guard their turf.”
http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Is-Your-Organization-Passive-Aggressive

6. Passive-aggressive behaviour develops in people’s minds
when they experience negative consequences
of disagreeing, i.e. when they do not feel safe in the
environment they work / live in.
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

7. The passive-aggressive organization is insular, defensive,
and rigid.
Resistance to change is rooted in its nature.
http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Is-Your-Organization-Passive-Aggressive

8. Further inspiration
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-can-we-manage-our-emotions-1678947

9. Question # 2
How do we respond to
passive-aggressive behaviour?

10. A large part of letting go of passive-aggressive
behaviour is to accept that conflict happens.
http://www.fastcompany.com/3049996/hit-the-ground-running/how-to-eliminate-passive-aggressive-behavior-in-your-office
https://hbr.org/2014/06/signs-youre-being-passive-aggressive/

11. Try to understand needs people have.
https://hbr.org/2014/06/signs-youre-being-passive-aggressive/

12. Focus on finding solutions, not faults.
http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Is-Your-Organization-Passive-Aggressive

13. Commonly, passive-aggressive behaviour is expressed
with sarcasm. Do not allow humour to shut things down.
Say, “We’ve enjoyed a laugh, now let’s get back to Bob’s
point.”
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

14. When someone comes up with a different point of view, try
saying this:
 “That is a different way of looking at this issue. Interesting.
What can we learn / gain from that perspective?”
 “That’s not how I was thinking about it.
Can you explain why you think what you think, please?”
Adapted from
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

15. Adapted from
http://www.strategy-business.com/blog/Is-Your-Organization-Passive-Aggressive
Encourage openness, for example by
 being open-minded yourself.
 asking people to explain.

16. When a person’s body language is negative, ask
the person this:
“I can see you push away from the table. Can you
explain why you do that, please?”
https://hbr.org/2016/01/how-to-deal-with-a-passive-aggressive-colleague
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

17. Ask “How do you interpret the comment Susan made?”
https://hbr.org/2016/01/how-to-deal-with-a-passive-aggressive-colleague

18. Encourage people to focus on the benefits of addressing
conflict directly.
Examples of benefits
 Faster execution.
 Less gossiping.
 Fewer meetings.
https://hbr.org/2016/01/reduce-passive-aggressive-behavior-on-your-team

19. Further inspiration
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-can-we-manage-conflicts-2016263