From Tension to Trust: How to Resolve Conflict and Strengthen Communication in a Hybrid Team

​Here's 3 simple practices for creating trust, resolving tension, and communicating clearly in a remote-first world, that will help you build a high-performing team. And why Nature has something to teach you.

In the world of remote and hybrid work, many of the subtle, everyday interactions that help your team stay connected are missing. You spend less time together in person. Casual chats in the kitchen are gone. And without the body language and nuance of face-to-face contact, even small tensions can quietly build up into bigger issues.

A tone misread in a Slack message or an email. A team member unintentionally left out of even a small decision. A disagreement brushed under the carpet because no one feels quite brave enough to raise it on screen.

It’s no wonder misunderstandings, resentment and conflict can simmer for longer.

For one of our clients, feedback given to a team member that was not received well had led to tension between two team members for more than a year, and affected the whole team and the work they did (until they came to us in the woods that is.)

But here’s the good news: when handled well, conflict can actually strengthen a team. 

Making space for healthy debate and addressing conflict proactively helps maintain a positive and productive work environment where team members feel safe enough to be vulnerable and become comfortable with disagreement.

Disagreements are a natural part of collaboration after all - and true teamwork often lives on the other side of the ‘storming’ phase. 

The challenge is to create the conditions where your team feels safe enough to speak up, and be able to deal with differences and issues constructively and together.

Why conflict festers in hybrid teams

• People don’t know each other so well anymore and get out of the habit of open conversations.
• Tone and intent can be harder to read in emails and messages.
• Leaders can be less visible and feel less approachable.
• Some voices become quieter on screens. Without knowing each other so well, people can feel hesitant to speak up.
• People can feel done to when decisions are made without their awareness or involvement.
• Assumptions take root in the absence of open dialogue and communication.

Left unchecked, small cracks can undermine trust and make collaboration harder. 

That’s why it’s vital to be proactive with your culture: create space for honest conversations, establish team norms, and build the habits that keep communication healthy.

What helps teams communicate better?

Research shows that high-performing teams are three times more likely to begin by discussing how they’ll work together - not just what they’re working on. This simple step lays the foundation for clearer communication, smoother collaboration, and fewer misunderstandings down the road.

Three ways to strengthen communication and resolve conflict in your team

1. Set clear norms for communication
   Use messaging tools for quick updates, but switch to video calls or in-person meetings for anything sensitive where tone and intent matter. Make sure everyone understands how and when to communicate, especially when collaborating on shared projects and across time zones or roles.
   
   
2. Equip your team for feedback
   Make feedback a regular, healthy part of your team culture. Many people find feedback challenging, so frame it as a tool for growth rather than an attack or personal criticism. For one of our clients, some team members had no idea how they were doing in the absence of any feedback. So equip people with the skills to address issues early and constructively. Use feedback frameworks like SBII (Situation-Behavior-Impact-Intent) or Non-Violent Communication (Observation-Feelings-Need-Request) to structure feedback clearly.
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3. Foster empathy, human connection and perspective-taking
   ​People are more generous and open when they feel seen.  Make time in meetings for team members to share what is going on - not just the work, but their challenges, wins, and life outside of it. When you understand each other’s realities, friction and conflict become easier to navigate and you’ll create stronger connections.

Nature has something to teach us here

Conflict is natural. So is resolution. In the woods, trees compete for light - but they also share resources underground. Nature thrives on both competition and collaboration.

When we bring teams into a natural space, away from screens and routines, something shifts. People talk more honestly. They listen more deeply. They see each other differently. They make space to talk about what really matters: how to work together as humans.

How School of the Wild can help:

Our experiential programmes provide a safe space for teams to navigate tension, build trust, and rediscover what healthy collaboration looks like - around a fire, under the sky, grounded by nature.

You can practice open, honest communication, and build the connections that enable your team to resolve conflict more easily.

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We took a lot from it… repairing the friction and conflict that existed between two team members. And I learnt how important team dynamics are to a high performing business.

MC, Agency CEO

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Want to help your team strengthen communication and handle conflict better?

• Download our free guide to culture in hybrid teams.

• Read our case studies and see how it has worked for other teams.

• Book one of our outdoor team building sessions in London and the South East to experience how nature-based activities can strengthen team culture in meaningful ways.
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Get in touch to find out more!