A legal consultant recommends that the nurse manager and staff members create a group agreement before addressing conflicts. According to Yoder Wise and Sportsman, agreements about how team members will collaborate are essential because:

Human beings tend to be untruthful by default and may not cooperate effectively unless they are held accountable.

In the absence of agreements, there is an unspoken approval for individuals to conduct themselves however they please.

Agreements help differentiate between team members who cooperate effectively and those who are less productive.

Agreements emphasize that despite disagreements and gossip that may arise during meetings, these conflicts are never aimed at individuals personally.