--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Great teams argue. Not in a mean-spirited…" description: "\"Great teams argue. Not in a mean-spirited or personal way, but they disagree when important decisions are made.\" — Patrick Lencioni" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/patrick-lencioni-1969_argue_great-teams-argue-not-in-a-mean-spirited_951872.png" --- # Great teams argue. Not in a mean-spirited or personal way… ![“Great teams argue. Not in a mean-spirited or personal way, but they disagree when important decisions are made.” quote by Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/patrick-lencioni-1969_argue_great-teams-argue-not-in-a-mean-spirited_951872.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/patrick-lencioni-1969_argue_great-teams-argue-not-in-a-mean-spirited_951872.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3b2/patrick-lencioni-1969_argue_great-teams-argue-not-in-a-mean-spirited_951872.png) > “Great teams argue. Not in a mean-spirited or personal way, but they disagree when important decisions are made.” [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective teams engage in constructive disagreement on crucial decisions, avoiding personal attacks. **In simple terms:** Good teams argue about ideas, not people. Key Takeaway Encourage respectful debate on key issues. Themes teamwork conflict resolution decision making leadership communication Mood collaborative assertive focused Type team strategic When to use this quote - project planning - strategic meetings - performance reviews - team building - conflict mediation Key Concepts constructive conflict psychological safety shared vision accountability Questions to Reflect On - How do you ensure disagreements stay idea‑focused? - What culture supports healthy conflict? A Different Perspective Disagreements can become personal if not managed; requires strong facilitation. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Great team](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-team/) [Important decision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/important-decision/) [Teams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teams/) ## Related quotes > [On great teams - the kind where people trust each other, engage in open conflict, and then commit to decisions - team members have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/on-great-teams-the-kind-where-people-trust-each-other-engage-in-open/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Members of great teams confront each other when they see something that isn't serving the team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/members-of-great-teams-confront-each-other-when-they-see-something/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/great-teams-do-not-hold-back-with-one-another-they-are-unafraid-to/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [There is a way to disagree with someone, but it doesn't have to be threatening.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iskra-lawrence/there-is-a-way-to-disagree-with-someone-but-it-doesn-t-have-to-be/) [Iskra Lawrence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iskra-lawrence/) > [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/) > [We can't live in fear. There are going to be people who will disagree with us, but it's important for us to stand up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shangela/we-can-t-live-in-fear-there-are-going-to-be-people-who-will-disagree/) [Shangela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shangela/) > [“As our appreciation of happiness in relationship increases, we take notice of the things that tend to take us away from this feeling. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carlson/as-our-appreciation-of-happiness-in-relationship-increases-we-take/) [Richard Carlson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carlson/) > [People who disagree on important issues don't agree on the facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-maddow/people-who-disagree-on-important-issues-don-t-agree-on-the-facts/) [Rachel Maddow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-maddow/) > [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/) > [“Then thre is Brian. It's been a slow-grow love with its roots in our friendship. We disagree about everything that's not important, like politics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-kerrigan/then-thre-is-brian-it-s-been-a-slow-grow-love-with-its-roots-in-our/) [Kate Kerrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-kerrigan/) ## More by Patrick Lencioni > [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Trust is the foundation of real teamwork (there is nothing touchy-feely about this).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/trust-is-the-foundation-of-real-teamwork-there-is-nothing-touchy/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“There is something so powerful about a person who in one moment can be confident enough to confront a client about a sensitive personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/there-is-something-so-powerful-about-a-person-who-in-one-moment-can/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“The idea is that your clients are looking for good suggestions, and they don’t mind sifting through some not-so-good ones as long as they’re…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-idea-is-that-your-clients-are-looking-for-good-suggestions-and/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Are your people uncomfortable during meetings and tired at the end? If not, they're probably not mixing it up enough and getting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/are-your-people-uncomfortable-during-meetings-and-tired-at-the-end-if/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [An organization has integrity—is healthy—when it is whole, consistent, and complete, that is, when its management, operations, strategy, and culture fit together and make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/an-organization-has-integrity-is-healthy-when-it-is-whole-consistent/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I've become absolutely convinced that the seminal difference between successful companies and mediocre or unsuccessful ones has little, if anything, to do with what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-ve-become-absolutely-convinced-that-the-seminal-difference-between/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [Home is most important in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/home-is-most-important-in-the-long-run/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [If you don't know what your family stands for and what your life situation is, you're in trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/if-you-don-t-know-what-your-family-stands-for-and-what-your-life/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“First, we go figure out how to recognize a real team player, the kind of person who can easily build trust, engage in healthy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/first-we-go-figure-out-how-to-recognize-a-real-team-player-the-kind/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [People will walk through fire for a leader that's true and human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/people-will-walk-through-fire-for-a-leader-that-s-true-and-human/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [The majority of meetings should be discussions that lead to decisions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-majority-of-meetings-should-be-discussions-that-lead-to-decisions/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [At its core, all authentic growth depends on more customers wanting more of what your company offers. Any other drivers - pricing gimmicks, heroic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/at-its-core-all-authentic-growth-depends-on-more-customers-wanting/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [“ADMIT YOUR WEAKNESSES AND LIMITATIONS”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/admit-your-weaknesses-and-limitations/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) > [I have yet to meet members of a leadership team who I thought lacked the intelligence or the domain expertise required to be successful.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/i-have-yet-to-meet-members-of-a-leadership-team-who-i-thought-lacked/) [Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) [Explore all 194 Patrick Lencioni quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/) ## More Argue quotes > [I'd rather argue with you than kiss someone else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fad-ibra/i-d-rather-argue-with-you-than-kiss-someone-else/) [Fad Ibra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fad-ibra/) > [I do wish you wouldn't argue with me when I'm knitting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerald-durrell/i-do-wish-you-wouldn-t-argue-with-me-when-i-m-knitting/) [Gerald Durrell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerald-durrell/) > [“But that is not true for all folk. Some folk are meant to argue with fate. And win.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/but-that-is-not-true-for-all-folk-some-folk-are-meant-to-argue-with/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-paine/to-argue-with-a-person-who-has-renounced-the-use-of-reason-is-like/) [Thomas Paine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-paine/) > [Argue for your limitations, and sure enough they're yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-bach/argue-for-your-limitations-and-sure-enough-they-re-yours/) [Richard Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-bach/) > [I like the fact that we argue but in the end we come together again realising how much we each need the other](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josephine/i-like-the-fact-that-we-argue-but-in-the-end-we-come-together-again/) [Josephine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josephine/) > [The surest sign that you haven't any sense is to argue with one who hasn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-j-peter/the-surest-sign-that-you-haven-t-any-sense-is-to-argue-with-one-who/) [Laurence J. Peter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-j-peter/) > [Has learned that sometimes it is just easier to agree with someone, than to argue a stupid point they think they have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hussein-nishah/has-learned-that-sometimes-it-is-just-easier-to-agree-with-someone/) [Hussein Nishah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hussein-nishah/) > [If you dont know, please ask. If you dont agree, argue. If you dont like it, please say it. But don't sit there quiet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-dont-know-please-ask-if-you-dont-agree-argue-if-you-dont-like/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-krastev/america-gave-the-world-the-notion-of-the-melting-pot-an-alchemical/) [Ivan Krastev](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-krastev/) > [Don't worry when I argue with you. Worry when I stop because it means there's nothing left to fight for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anurag-prakash-ray/don-t-worry-when-i-argue-with-you-worry-when-i-stop-because-it-means/) [Anurag Prakash Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anurag-prakash-ray/) > [“Be quick to resolve conflicts before they mature to become wars. The energetic crocodile was once a delicate egg!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/be-quick-to-resolve-conflicts-before-they-mature-to-become-wars-the/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I taught my executive team how to argue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-mulally/i-taught-my-executive-team-how-to-argue/) [Alan Mulally](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-mulally/) > [“People argue between Pele or Maradona. Di Stéfano is the best, much more complete.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pel/people-argue-between-pele-or-maradona-di-st-fano-is-the-best-much/) [Pelé](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pel/) > [“The more women argue, loudly, against feminism, the more they both prove it exists and that they enjoy its hard-won privileges.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caitlin-moran/the-more-women-argue-loudly-against-feminism-the-more-they-both-prove/) [Caitlin Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caitlin-moran/) Browse all 642 Argue quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Great teams argue. 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