Inescapable in any workplace or relationship, conflict often emerges like an unwelcome dinnertime telemarketer. Yet, let's shatter the notion that conflict is inherently detrimental. When skillfully harnessed, conflict emerges as a catalyst for positive transformations: a forge where creativity is kindled, decisions are refined, and bonds are fortified.

This is what we call triangulation: Person A (Will) has a problem with Person B (Jada), so they talk about that problem with Person C (Jaden). It happens in families and in organizations alike, and if these behaviors are common in your workplace, beware.

Triangulation can be so common in the workplace that we can fail to recognize it. During our 25 years of working with organizations, we’ve seen organizational cultures truly damaged by workplace negativity, and often the leaders in these companies have no idea of the source or even the nature of the problem.

Some of us have been managing remote teams for years, but for many this is a brand new (and slightly anxiety-producing) experience.  Our 3-hour virtual workshop Managing REMOTELY with Mind and Heart (a spinoff of our popular 5-day leadership development workshop, Managing with Mind and Heart) provides new and experienced managers with ready-to-use skills for maintaining employee morale and engagement, communicating effectively, reinforcing team commitments and values, and managing productivity. 
 
Here are some quick and easy(ish) practices and tips to help you set your remote team up for success: 

The only thing worse than a poorly run meeting is a poorly run meeting filled with people who are behaving poorly. 

So how do you get people to bring their best selves to meetings?  Here are a few tips:

This meeting started 10 minutes late. Jerry has his head down on the conference room table. Glenn, our “note taker,” is writing a long political piece on Facebook while my manager tries to rein in people who are having side conversations about the drama in this year’s Oscars. Can we just get this meeting started already? What are we talking about anyways? I literally have no clue what we’re meeting about. The only agenda item said, “Discuss important matters.” At least we got something that resembles an agenda this time. Boy, do I have a lot of work to get done that I’m not doing as I sit here in my fifth meeting of the week. (It’s Tuesday.) This meeting has officially sucked my soul right out of me.