Two of my leadership team members are constantly passive-aggressive in our weekly meetings, using subtle digs and body language instead of open argument. It is poisoning the room but they never actually blow up. How do I put an end to this covert peer warfare?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Covert conflict is far more destructive than a loud argument because it erodes the safety of the entire room. When leaders use passive-aggressive digs, they are managing status rather than solving problems. You must address this behavior immediately and directly.

During your next Level 10 Meeting, the moment you observe a subtle dig or dismissive body language, call it out in real time. Do not wait for the meeting to end. State exactly what you saw and heard, and ask them to clarify what they actually mean. This forces the issue into the open where you can IDS it.

If the behavior continues, schedule a three-way meeting with both leaders. Use the trust framework from Charles H. Green to diagnose the issue. Often, passive-aggressive behavior stems from high self-orientation, where one or both leaders are more focused on protecting their own ego or department than helping the business. Force them to define the root cause of their friction.

If they cannot resolve it and commit to healthy, direct debate, you have a Right Person issue on your hands. You cannot run a healthy leadership team with people who choose sabotage over direct conversation.

AI never sits in the room. It works before the Level 10 Meeting to prep the data and after the meeting to capture and track what was decided. The 90 minutes stay human: your leadership team, the scorecard, the issues list, and the IDS conversation.