To navigate conflicting objectives between team members and managers over growth plans, start by facilitating an open discussion where both parties can express their concerns and perspectives. Encourage active listening to foster mutual understanding. Identify common goals and areas of agreement to build a collaborative approach. Consider proposing a compromise that incorporates elements from both sides, ensuring alignment with the overall organizational strategy. Regular check-ins can help monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed, reinforcing a united front and shared commitment to success.

Facilitate Open Dialogue: Create a safe space for both team members and managers to express their perspectives. Encourage a discussion that focuses on understanding each party's objectives and concerns. Identify Common Goals: Find overlapping objectives that both sides can agree on. Emphasizing shared goals can help unite the team and management under a common purpose. Clarify Objectives: Ensure that everyone understands the specific growth plans and the reasoning behind them. Clarifying objectives can help dispel misunderstandings and align expectations.

If your team is butting heads over growth plans, that’s a sign that your L&D strategy is outdated. Trying to fit everyone into the same mold without aligning individual growth with the company’s strategic goals sets you up for failure. In a skills-based organization, everything is tailored—learning, growth, and development are all customized to individual and business needs. SFIA (Skills Framework for the Information Age) has been the go-to framework for digital teams for over 20 years, helping you define and measure skills and competencies precisely. When you make this shift, you’ll see better communication and alignment between teams, making these clashes a thing of the past.