--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Contrary to popular myth, great teams are…" description: "\"“Contrary to popular myth, great teams are not characterized by an absence of conflict. On the contrary, in my experience, one of the most reliable ind..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/george-kohlrieser-37574_football_contrary-to-popular-myth-great-teams-are_2607053.jpg" --- # Contrary to popular myth, great teams are not… ![“Contrary to popular myth, great teams are not characterized by an absence of conflict. On the contrary, in my experience, one of the most reliable indicators of a team that is continually learning is the visible conflict of ideas. In great teams conflict becomes productive.”1” quote by George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/george-kohlrieser-37574_football_contrary-to-popular-myth-great-teams-are_2607053.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/george-kohlrieser-37574_football_contrary-to-popular-myth-great-teams-are_2607053.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f96/george-kohlrieser-37574_football_contrary-to-popular-myth-great-teams-are_2607053.jpg) > ““Contrary to popular myth, great teams are not characterized by an absence of conflict. On the contrary, in my experience, one of the most reliable indicators of a team that is continually learning is the visible conflict of ideas. In great teams conflict becomes productive.”1”” [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Productive conflict signals learning; visible disagreements indicate a team’s growth and adaptability. **In simple terms:** Open conflict shows a learning team. Key Takeaway Encourage respectful debate. Themes conflict learning team dynamics growth transparency Mood thoughtful constructive analytical Type advice philosophical motivational When to use this quote - Team meetings - project retrospectives - innovation workshops - cross‑functional collaborations - academic research groups Key Concepts Psychological safety constructive dialogue organizational learning Questions to Reflect On - How do you keep conflict constructive? - When is silence more beneficial? A Different Perspective If conflict becomes personal, it can damage trust and morale. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Conflict Ideas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict-ideas-1995699/) [Conflict Productive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conflict-productive-1995697/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-team/) [Great Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-teams/) [Team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/team/) [Teams Characterized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-characterized-1995700/) [Teams Conflict](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams-conflict-1995698/) [Teamwork](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teamwork/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [In great teams conflict becomes productive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-great-teams-conflict-becomes-productive/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [In great teams, conflict becomes productive. The free flow of conflicting ideas is critical for creative thinking, for discovering new solutions no one individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/in-great-teams-conflict-becomes-productive-the-free-flow-of/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [Creativity comes from a conflict of ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/creativity-comes-from-a-conflict-of-ideas/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [Democracy necessarily means a conflict of will and ideas, involving sometimes a war of the knife between different ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/democracy-necessarily-means-a-conflict-of-will-and-ideas-involving/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Often when people talk about great teams, they only talk about that transcendent sense of purpose. But while that’s a critical element, it’s only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sutherland/often-when-people-talk-about-great-teams-they-only-talk-about-that/) [Jeff Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sutherland/) > [The West is tough. Great teams. Great records, top to bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-stockton/the-west-is-tough-great-teams-great-records-top-to-bottom/) [John Stockton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-stockton/) > [I've been with some great teams and had good wins and great success at certain periods of time in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-earnhardt-jr/i-ve-been-with-some-great-teams-and-had-good-wins-and-great-success/) [Dale Earnhardt Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-earnhardt-jr/) > [When you play against Barcelona and other great teams in the world, you can lose. It happens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarence-seedorf/when-you-play-against-barcelona-and-other-great-teams-in-the-world/) [Clarence Seedorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarence-seedorf/) > [If the opportunity came to manage Al Ahli then why not? I would also like to one day coach one of the globe's great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-cannavaro/if-the-opportunity-came-to-manage-al-ahli-then-why-not-i-would-also/) [Fabio Cannavaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-cannavaro/) > [Chelsea are one of the great teams in Europe and Mourinho is one of the best coaches in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-costa/chelsea-are-one-of-the-great-teams-in-europe-and-mourinho-is-one-of/) [Douglas Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-costa/) > [Successful ventures in business or philanthropy are built around great teams who can help us overcome tremendous challenges - and have the right experiences…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naveen-jain/successful-ventures-in-business-or-philanthropy-are-built-around/) [Naveen Jain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naveen-jain/) > [Chelsea and Shakhtar are two great teams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fabio-quagliarella/chelsea-and-shakhtar-are-two-great-teams/) [Fabio Quagliarella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fabio-quagliarella/) > [If great teams don't have an "enemy," they create one for themselves because, as former Coca-Cola CEO Roberto Goizueta pointed out, "you can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-g-bennis/if-great-teams-don-t-have-an-enemy-they-create-one-for-themselves/) [Warren G. Bennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-g-bennis/) > [You've just got to keep working hard, keep plugging along. That's how great teams win more trophies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gareth-bale/you-ve-just-got-to-keep-working-hard-keep-plugging-along-that-s-how/) [Gareth Bale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gareth-bale/) > [Football is a team sport. I'm proud of what I achieved in my career, but I also know that I wouldn't have achieved any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/football-is-a-team-sport-i-m-proud-of-what-i-achieved-in-my-career/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) ## More by George Kohlrieser > [You can't change when you're defensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/you-can-t-change-when-you-re-defensive/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“The son knows about himself as a masculine figure through the eyes of the mother, not the eyes of the father.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-son-knows-about-himself-as-a-masculine-figure-through-the-eyes-of/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [The power of imagination is incredible. Often we see athletes achieving unbelievable results and wonder how they did it. One of the tools they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-power-of-imagination-is-incredible-often-we-see-athletes/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“It would be more accurate to say that we see with our brain rather than with our eyes. However, the more interesting point is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/it-would-be-more-accurate-to-say-that-we-see-with-our-brain-rather/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“Most people are driven by fear or by avoidance of pain. Only a few are driven by the benefits.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/most-people-are-driven-by-fear-or-by-avoidance-of-pain-only-a-few-are/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“The fact is that when we are filled with anxiety and fear, this affects both mental and physical functioning and reduces our capacity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-fact-is-that-when-we-are-filled-with-anxiety-and-fear-this/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“Self-reliant loners, who think they can do everything on their own, often make fatal mistakes and decisions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/self-reliant-loners-who-think-they-can-do-everything-on-their-own/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“The seven manifestations of broken bonding are psychosomatic illness, violence and aggression, addiction, depression, burnout, stress reaction, and organizational conflict.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-seven-manifestations-of-broken-bonding-are-psychosomatic-illness/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [“The capacity to develop close and enduring relationships is one mark of a leader.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-capacity-to-develop-close-and-enduring-relationships-is-one-mark/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [Mindfulness can create a foundation for emotional bonding that allows you to be fully present and authentic during dialogues or a discussion. A mindful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/mindfulness-can-create-a-foundation-for-emotional-bonding-that-allows/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) > [A hallmark of high performance leaders is the ability to influence others through all levels and types of communication, from simple interactions to difficult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/a-hallmark-of-high-performance-leaders-is-the-ability-to-influence/) [George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) [Explore all 12 George Kohlrieser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) [Brendan Mundorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brendan-mundorf/) > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Contrary to popular myth, great teams are not characterized by an absence of conflict. 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