Working Better in Teams: Conflict, Ego, and Collaboration

Ever been in a team meeting where tensions rose and voices got a bit louder? It happens to the best of teams. The good news is that a bit of conflict isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it can be a sign that team members are passionate and committed. The key is knowing how to channel that passion constructively. Let us explore six principles for healthier teamwork—ranging from embracing healthy conflict to walking in your teammates’ shoes. 

1. Embrace Healthy Conflict (But Resolve It)

Conflict has a bad reputation, but not all conflict is harmful. If everyone always agrees, chances are real issues are being swept under the rug. A lively debate means people care enough to speak up. As teamwork expert Patrick Lencioni reminds us, “Great teams do not hold back with one another… they engage in unfiltered, passionate debate around issues.” In other words, healthy conflict is a sign of a healthy team.

That said, unresolved conflict is harmful. When disagreements simmer without resolution, they breed resentment and dysfunction. Imagine two teammates clashing over a project direction and then silently stewing for weeks—that’s a recipe for disaster. The goal is to address conflicts constructively: focus on the problem, not personal attacks; listen to each other’s perspectives; and find common ground to move forward. Passionate disagreement is fine (even good) as long as the team commits to a solution in the end.

2. Remember the Customer Only Cares About the Result

While we’re busy debating internally, it’s easy to forget that the customer sees none of that. At the end of the day, customers and clients judge us by the product or service we deliver, not by how harmonious (or chaotic) our team meetings were. As Walmart founder Sam Walton famously said, “There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.” Ouch. That quote may sting, but it’s a powerful reminder: customers are the ultimate judges of our work.

What does that mean for teamwork? It means keeping our eyes on the prize. Internal conflicts and politics should never derail us from delivering value to the customer. If two team members disagree on how to implement a feature, the resolution should hinge on what’s best for the user or client, not on who wins the argument. It’s not about your department vs. my department—it’s about creating something awesome for the people who use it. When everyone keeps the customer’s perspective in mind, it’s easier to set aside petty issues and pull together to deliver results.

3. Leave Your Ego at the Door

Teams function best when everyone checks their ego at the door. This can be tough—after all, we’re only human, and it’s natural to feel attached to our own ideas. But effective teamwork requires that we prioritise being effective over being right. In practice, that means instead of pushing an opinion just to “win” a debate, each person brings well-researched insights and facts to back up their perspective. The discussion then becomes about the merits of the ideas, not about personal pride.

One way to think about it is this: ideas are on trial, not people. If someone shoots down an idea in a meeting, it’s not a personal attack—it’s an opportunity to refine the idea or come up with a better one. Great teams create an environment where debates are about the work, not egos. And when someone else’s idea proves to be the best, everyone rallies behind it regardless of whose idea it was.

There’s a classic quote attributed to Ronald Reagan that captures this spirit: “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” If no one cares about credit or turf, imagine how much more a team can accomplish. The takeaway: Bring your knowledge, bring your research, bring your A game—but leave your ego behind.

4. Realise You’re All On the Same Team

Funny thing about egos: once you put them aside, you often discover that everyone’s end goals are remarkably similar. In the heat of a disagreement, it might feel like Alice and Bob are on different planets—her approach vs. his approach. But step back and you’ll see Alice and Bob both want the project to succeed; they both want to impress the client; they both want to grow the business. The disagreement was just about the method, not the mission.

When teammates genuinely listen to each other, they frequently find their visions align more than they initially thought. It becomes clear that we’re all in this together. The marketing and engineering teams might butt heads over timeline vs. features, but both teams ultimately want a successful product launch. Recognising this shared purpose makes it easier to collaborate and compromise.

Henry Ford had a saying: “If everyone is moving forward together, success takes care of itself.” A team rowing in the same direction will eventually reach its destination. This means focusing on that common goal—the success of the team or organisation—and understanding that each person’s role, though different, is contributing to that same big-picture outcome. When conflicts arise, remind each other: We want the same thing. How can we get there together?

5. Put the Organisation First (and You’ll Benefit Too)

In high-performing teams, individuals put the organisation’s goals ahead of personal agendas. That might sound self-sacrificing, but here’s the catch: when the organisation wins, the individuals win too. If the company grows and thrives, there are more opportunities, rewards, and recognition for everyone involved. Prioritising team success isn’t about martyring your personal ambitions—it’s a savvy long-term strategy for personal success as well.

Think of it this way: a rising tide lifts all boats. If you help your team or company achieve greatness, you naturally get to share in that glory. It might mean sometimes doing work outside your job description, or supporting a decision that’s best for the business even if it’s not your preference. In the long run, those who champion the greater good tend to become the most valued team members (and often rise to leadership roles themselves).

Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar put it beautifully: “You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” By helping the team win, you’re helping yourself win in the grand scheme of things. So the next time you’re tempted to ask “What’s in it for me?”, flip it around and ask “What’s in it for us?”—you’ll find that what’s good for us will eventually be good for me too.

6. Walk in Each Other’s Shoes (Literally)

One of the best ways to improve cross-functional collaboration and break down silos is a bit unconventional: try role-switching. No, this doesn’t mean changing careers, but spending a little time in a colleague’s shoes. For example, a product manager might shadow a Car advisor for a day, or engineers might sit in on RA calls. The idea is to experience the challenges and perspectives of other roles firsthand. When you do that, something magical happens: empathy grows.

Picture a scenario where the marketing lead and the software developer swap roles for a short exercise. The business program manager tries to fix a small bug in the code; the developer responds to the customer grievance call. They’ll each gain a newfound respect for what the other does. Lightbulbs go off: “Oh, this is why it takes the dev team a week to implement that request,” or “Now I see why business keeps pushing for that feature—it’s what customers ask about.” Such understanding fosters patience, cooperation, and willingness to help.

As author Daniel H. Pink notes, “Empathy is about standing in someone else’s shoes, feeling with his or her heart, seeing with his or her eyes. Not only is empathy hard to outsource and automate, but it makes the world a better place.” When team members develop empathy for each other’s challenges, they communicate better and collaborate more seamlessly. So, consider organising a “walk in each other’s shoes” day or swap tasks occasionally. It might lead to a lot of laughter (imagine the engineer handling an angry customer call!) but also a deeper appreciation that lasts long after.

Closing Thoughts

Great teamwork doesn’t happen by accident. It’s built through open communication, mutual respect, and a shared vision. Healthy conflict sparks innovation, as long as it’s resolved and not left to fester. Customer focus keeps everyone honest about what really matters. Egos set aside make room for the best ideas to rise. And when that happens, we realise we were all on the same side from the start. By putting the team’s success first and occasionally walking in each other’s shoes, we create an environment where collaboration isn’t forced—it flourishes naturally.

Remember, teams win when team members have each other’s backs. With passion guided in productive ways and a clear common goal, there’s little a united team can’t accomplish. As the old proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” 

Let’s go far, together. 🚀