What do you do if your team is divided on a decision at work?

1 Understand Views

To bridge a divide, start by ensuring you fully comprehend the perspectives at play. Listen attentively to each team member's arguments and concerns. This not only shows respect but also helps you to identify the underlying reasons for their stance. People want to feel heard and understood, and by providing this opportunity, you create a foundation for open dialogue. Remember, the goal here is not to win an argument but to gather insights that can lead to a viable solution.

2 Seek Commonality

Once you've listened to your team's differing opinions, search for common ground. Even in stark disagreement, there are often shared values or goals that can serve as a starting point for building consensus. Highlighting these can shift the focus from conflicting positions to a shared vision for success. By emphasizing what everyone agrees on, you can start to construct a bridge over the divide, making it easier for all parties to move forward together.

3 Facilitate Dialogue

Encouraging open and structured dialogue is key. Create a safe space for discussion where team members can express their views without fear of dismissal or retribution. Encourage everyone to speak and listen in turn, ensuring that all voices are heard. This can help to reduce tension and prevent the conversation from becoming a battleground of egos. A facilitated dialogue can uncover new perspectives and lead to innovative solutions that might not have been considered otherwise.

4 Explore Alternatives

When opinions are polarized, it's helpful to explore alternative solutions that may not have been initially considered. Encourage your team to think creatively and be open to compromise. Sometimes, a fresh approach can break the deadlock and lead to a decision that satisfies the core interests of the opposing sides. This process can also demonstrate flexibility and a willingness to collaborate, which are essential components of effective teamwork.

5 Make a Decision

Eventually, a decision must be made, even if it doesn't please everyone entirely. If consensus is still out of reach, consider a democratic approach where the majority vote decides the course of action. It's important to ensure that this process is agreed upon by all team members beforehand to avoid further conflict. Once a decision is made, it's vital to commit to it and work together to implement it successfully.

6 Reflect and Learn

After navigating through a tough decision-making process, take time to reflect on what worked and what didn't. This is an opportunity for the team to learn from the experience and strengthen its problem-solving skills for future challenges. Discuss openly how the situation was handled, what could be improved, and how to prevent similar divides in the future. Continuous learning is a hallmark of high-performing teams.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?