Your coachees are at odds over project strategies. How do you navigate conflicting viewpoints effectively?

It is imperative that we acknowledge and analyze the existence of diverse viewpoints on a given subject matter. In comparison, coaches place emphasis on the aspects in which they possess the utmost confidence. Furthermore, it is essential for coaching to evolve in a manner that capitalizes on individual strengths.

When team members disagree on project strategies, it’s often due to unclear guidance. Focus on KPIs that determine the quickest and most efficient methods. Having solid SOPs and documented processes is essential. Encourage innovation so everyone feels heard, but ensure strategy decisions are based on facts and data, not emotions. Use key performance indicators to evaluate each strategy’s results. By focusing on data, you avoid power struggles and subjective opinions. Ensure that outcomes are measured objectively to prevent conflicts and confirm whether a strategy is effective. Data-driven decisions foster clarity and collaboration

Step one would be to seek to understand what, "project strategies" means. Maybe it's helping with a project strategy—maybe it's helping with prioritization—maybe it's something else. In any case, this sounds like a dip into "advisor" mode. Remain mindful of whether you're being coach or advisor.

I could not agree more with: To effectively navigate conflicting viewpoints among your coachees, start by thoroughly understanding the issues at hand. Encourage each coachee to articulate their strategy and the reasoning behind it.

The approach I go with is. : Listen, Sync, validate, and coach Listen to your coachee to understand the objective behind their strategy. Ensure you attune your wavelength to comprehend the context and rationale behind his viewpoint. Offer constructive feedback to help him understand the potential consequences of his strategies by validating his input. Add value by showing how from an objective standpoint of view, a different strategy can alter the results.

- Facilitate an open discussion where each coachee can express their views respectfully. - Encourage active listening to ensure everyone understands each other’s perspectives. - Guide the conversation towards finding common ground and collaborative solutions.

Promoting dialogue is like being the conductor of an orchestra—you bring together different instruments to create harmony. When coachees are at odds over strategies, encouraging open and respectful communication helps each person share their perspective and understand others' viewpoints. For example, you can facilitate a structured discussion where everyone has a chance to speak, ensuring that all ideas are heard and considered. This not only fosters collaboration but also helps find common ground or innovative solutions that might not have surfaced otherwise. By promoting dialogue, you turn conflict into a creative process. And who knows, maybe you'll end up orchestrating the next big breakthrough instead of a cacophony of competing ideas!

Encourage each coachee to articulate what they believe is most important for the project's success. Often, despite differing strategies, there are underlying priorities or values that both parties agree on, such as achieving a specific outcome or meeting a particular deadline. By highlighting these shared goals, you can shift the conversation from conflict to collaboration, creating a foundation where both sides feel heard and understood. This common ground serves as a starting point for finding mutually beneficial solutions that align with the overall project objectives.

I guide my coachees to brainstorm various approaches, considering both perspectives, and then evaluate the potential outcomes of each. For instance, in a scenario where one group favored a quick launch while another prioritized thorough testing, I facilitated a creative session where they developed hybrid solutions, such as phased rollouts or parallel testing. By exploring these alternatives together, they were able to align on a strategy that respected both speed and quality, turning conflict into collaborative innovation.

There is always a way out, based on my experience in JP Morgan there was always ways out of conflicts with the coaches. Its incredible.

I guide my coachees to vote on the proposed strategies after thorough discussion, ensuring everyone’s voice is heard. Once a decision is made, I encourage the team to implement the chosen strategy and then reflect on the outcomes together. In a project where two approaches were equally viable, the team voted to proceed with one. Post-implementation, we held a debrief to analyze results, extracting lessons for future projects, thereby fostering continuous improvement and team cohesion.

Guide them to consider what went well in the discussion, what could have been handled differently, and how their unique talents contributed to the process. This reflection helps them understand how their individual approaches impacted the team's dynamics and the outcome of the conflict. By focusing on the lessons learned, they can apply this knowledge to future situations, improving both their collaboration and the effectiveness of their strategies. This continuous learning process resolves current conflicts and equips them with better tools for handling disagreements moving forward.