Senior stakeholders are at odds over a key initiative. How do you navigate their conflicting interests?

How to demonstrate that you understand stakeholders' interests: Actively listen and paraphrase their perspectives. Ask clarifying questions to deepen your understanding. Summarize discussions and share them. Document views and distribute them to all parties. Show empathy and consider their concerns in decision-making. Seek feedback and be open to ongoing dialogue. Adapt plans based on stakeholders' interests. Implement concrete actions that demonstrate consideration of their interests.

Il s'agit la d'une excellente opportunité de comprendre les modèles de pensées de nos cadres. Prendre le sujet avec de la hauteur permettra de mieux profiler nos collaborateurs et le dialogue amènera de manière certaine à une initiative mieux partagées dont les résultats seront probablement meilleurs que sans ce conflit. Pourrait on alors dire que d'ailleurs chaque conflit se cache une opportunité ??

Communication is the most important factor when dealing with stakeholders. Speaking, Listening and Understanding must be given room to thrive to ensue trust and improve credibility.

Determine what kinds of key metrics, investments, and returns appeal to the stakeholders who are particularly in conflict and gear the information you provide to those factors as you discuss the issues that are essential to them. If you can possibly do it, try to take their issues and concerns seriously, even if you personally do not agree that their concerns are as important as the stakeholders express them or feel about them. When you communicate, assume the part of a friendly, supportive consultant, or an advocate for your stakeholders' causes. When the stakeholders who are in conflict are in the same room together, emphasize diplomacy and act as much like a moderator as you can, focusing on open and honest communication for everyone.

Don't be above finding common ground in what the company values and promotes in the culture and in the mission statements and published visions. Stakeholders in a company likely had a part in formulating those statements and visions, and in cultivating them among their organizational structure. Harmonizing with priorities stated there may help your communication feel more open and transparent to your stakeholders. But also be willing to socialize and have fun with these key stakeholders. If the culture permits it, share what you find joy in, and be real about it. Sometimes finding common ground is a social activity, and volunteering genuinely who you are can help build trust and expose common ground.

Think out of the Box! this is the best approach to any problem that is being discussed or dissected. There should always be the space for alternatives through creativity and thoughtfulness

The use of Influencers is vital as they make or break an initiative without even trying too hard. They must be leveraged to drive home the point being discussed through sustainable relationships and otherwise.

In your 1-1 conversations, try to elicit the real issue behind any conflict of interest. Perhaps they are concerned about how the initiative may negatively impact their current and future goals. They are humans and naturally will be concerned if they don't see any personal and professional benefit (both). After all, they have aspirations too. Commit to enhancing their brand / career and they will help you come up with solutions to resolve the conflicting issues. They didn't get to where they are by accident so if you're not getting tractions, it's because you need to gain their trust. Once you have earned their trust and they see you as their advocate, they will go out of their way to help you. Be human.