To be destructively content or constructively discontent

Do you sometimes say yes when you mean no, or agree to do something you don’t want to do or have time for?

As team members, we don’t want to upset or offend our colleagues however, by being insincere and disrespectful to ourselves, we pay a price.

Flourishing teams distinguish themselves by being in a state of ‘constructive discontent’:

1. They push back on ideas to stress-test other’s thinking

2. They openly disagree to explore better alternatives

3. They say yes only when they mean it

Floundering teams, on the other hand, engage in ‘destructive content’:

1. They avoid disagreement, fearing the consequences

2. They engage in cordial hypocrisy, hoping to win other’s favour

3. Worse still, they agree to a course of action, they don’t buy into.

What would it take and what benefits would there be if you were to encourage your team to be more ‘constructively discontent’?