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Leadership Training/Mentoring Corner - April Situation

THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING/MENTORING CORNER

In the August 2025 Newsletter, we started a series called “The Leadership/Mentoring Corner” in which we posed a thought-provoking situation for you to think about and put yourself into, asking yourself, “What are your next steps?” 

APRIL LEADERSHIP SITUATION

Steve, the team leader, is managing a group working on an important, time-sensitive project with a tight deadline. Two of the team’s strongest performers are in growing conflict over how to approach the work. One employee advocates for a fast, innovative strategy that could yield impressive results but carries some risk. The other prefers a careful, methodical process that minimizes errors but may slow progress.

As the disagreement continues, team meetings become tense, communication begins to break down, and other team members start taking sides. Productivity is slipping, and the deadline is approaching quickly. The leader recognizes that if the conflict is not addressed soon, it could jeopardize both the project’s success and the team’s overall cohesion.

Steve must decide how to intervene—balancing the need to resolve the conflict, maintaining respect among team members, and ensuring the project is completed effectively and on time.

What should Steve’s next steps be?

Please provide us with a brief write-up of What are Steve’s next steps? Send your write-up to Lynn Rosado at [email protected]

In our May 2026 Newsletter, a team of Silver Fox Advisors will provide responses to what he or she would have recommended to Steve that he should do based on the situation detailed above.