To resolve a conflict between a marketing team and a stakeholder over brand positioning, start an open discussion to understand each party's concerns and aspirations. Identify shared objectives that are consistent with the brand's basic values. Facilitate collaborative brainstorming sessions to bring opposing ideas together into a unified approach. Use data-driven insights to validate proposed techniques, ensuring they are in line with market trends and customer expectations. By encouraging mutual respect and open communication, you can bridge gaps and develop a united brand vision that benefits both the team and stakeholders.

When facing a clash between your marketing team and stakeholders regarding brand positioning, open dialogue is essential. Organize a meeting where both sides can voice their perspectives. Start by identifying shared goals—like increasing brand visibility or enhancing customer engagement. I’ve found that creating a visual map of how each idea aligns with your brand’s mission helps clarify differences. This approach encourages collaboration and allows everyone to feel invested in the outcome. A compromise may emerge that reflects both strategic priorities and stakeholder interests.

How far each party’s perspectives are from the brand DNA is probably a strong point to figure out the common ground since the brand values are constant for all. Since customer’s perception of the brand is the reality for any brand, pinning each party’s views about positioning against customers perception of the brand should provide both marketing team and stakeholders a way to work towards and align any deviation within the team. Of course, a very open communication should be established for satisfactory resolution. Data based insights used in the process will only make the resolution more acceptable to all.

*Facilitate Open Dialogue: Promote transparent discussions to address concerns. *Align Objectives: Ensure all parties understand and agree on the brand's goals. *Effective Compromise: Find a balance between creative marketing strategies and stakeholder interests.

Begin by aligning on shared goals—what does success look like for everyone? Get everyone's perspective before officially starting the meeting. Facilitate open dialogue, where both sides voice concerns and ideas. As a content creator I see things through a content lens... Use data to inform decisions, but don’t overlook the power of story. What role does each stakeholder play in advancing the plot? By positioning everyone as co-creators, you turn a clash into a collaboration, strengthening the brand’s story together.