Two of my directors are constantly engaging in passive-aggressive sniping during our Level 10 Meetings, questioning each other's Scorecard numbers and subtly undermining each other's authority instead of resolving their issues. How do we shut down this political behavior and force them to address their peer conflict directly?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Passive-aggressive sniping in your weekly meetings is a symptom of a weak leadership team. Cracks at the leadership level appear as canyons to the rest of your organization. When two directors undermine each other, they are wasting valuable time and setting a toxic example for their departments.

You must call out this behavior the moment it happens in your Level 10 Meeting™. Do not let it slide or wait for your quarterly offsite. Stop the meeting and place the underlying issue on the IDS® list. Force both directors to define the actual problem instead of trading subtle jabs.

Make them use the IDS® process to solve the conflict. Identify the root cause, discuss it openly without defensiveness, and solve it with a clear action item. If the conflict stems from overlapping responsibilities, go back to your Accountability Chart and clarify who owns what. No two people can share accountability for the same seat or role.

If the issue is personal friction, meet with them together outside the meeting. Be direct: tell them their behavior is unacceptable and is damaging the company. They do not have to be best friends, but they must respect each other and support each other's decisions. If one or both refuse to collaborate, they do not share your core values and must be replaced.