When BD priorities divide your team, skip democratic decisions – they often dilute focus and slow progress. Instead, identify one clear North Star metric everyone can rally behind. Then, make decisions autocratically but transparently: communicate why this target matters, what impact it will have, and how each person's unique contribution directly fuels success. This centralized approach avoids endless debate, drives accountability, and provides a singular, motivating focus that aligns every team member’s daily actions with BD goals.

When BD priorities clash, aligning the team is key to meeting targets effectively. I start by establishing a shared vision that connects everyone’s efforts to the broader goals. Open dialogue allows each team member to express concerns and ideas, fostering a collaborative atmosphere. Implementing a democratic decision-making process ensures all voices are considered, helping the team feel invested in a unified direction. This approach drives focus and teamwork.

Clarify BD Goals: Outline specific, measurable BD objectives to ensure everyone understands the end goal. Identify Overlapping Priorities: Find common ground among conflicting priorities. Encourage Open Discussion: Facilitate a discussion where team members can voice concerns and understand others' perspectives. Set Clear Actionable Steps: Break down the BD targets into actionable tasks and assign ownership. Create a Unified Roadmap: Develop a roadmap that highlights key milestones. Monitor and Adjust Regularly: Hold periodic check-ins to reassess priorities and address any emerging conflicts. Encourage Team Accountability: Reinforce a sense of ownership by tying tasks to individual and collective outcomes.

When a team is divided on priorities, I’ve found that going back to shared goals is essential. In one project, half the team prioritized client onboarding speed, while others focused on personalization quality. To unify us, I led a workshop where we mapped how both speed and personalization were essential to our client experience. By co-creating a hybrid approach that respected both priorities, we saw immediate buy-in, and results showed that our combined efforts strengthened client satisfaction and conversion rates.