Your team is divided on digital strategy for a new market. How will you navigate conflicting opinions?

When your team is divided on digital strategy for a new market, the first step is to assess the varying viewpoints. Facilitate open discussions where each team member can share their ideas, concerns, and reasons for their preferred approach. Listen actively to understand the underlying motivations and experiences that shape their opinions. By thoroughly assessing the views on the table, you can identify common themes, potential areas of compromise, and the key issues that need to be addressed to move forward effectively.

Compare side by side: competition, investment, expected results, 5-year market pen and returns, systematic and idiosyncratic risks. Then you have your answers.

When your team is divided on a digital strategy, begin by facilitating open discussions where all perspectives can be shared. Use data-driven insights from market research and customer feedback to guide decisions. Align the team around clear objectives to ensure a unified focus on common goals. Pilot different strategies on a smaller scale to gather empirical evidence before committing fully. Consider bringing in external expertise for an impartial view and to mediate disagreements. Encourage compromise by blending elements from various strategies and communicate transparently about the decision-making process to build trust and alignment.

After identifying goals, work on bridging the gaps between differing opinions. Seek areas of common ground where elements of each strategy can be combined or adapted to meet the shared objectives. Encourage collaborative problem-solving, where team members build on each other's ideas rather than competing against them. This process not only helps in finding a balanced strategy that incorporates the best aspects of each viewpoint but also fosters a sense of ownership and collective responsibility among the team, making it easier to implement the final strategy.

Finally, establish a clear decision-making framework to guide the selection of the digital strategy. Define criteria for success based on the identified goals and use these to objectively evaluate the proposed strategies. Consider factors such as potential ROI, resource requirements, time to market, and alignment with brand values. Involve key stakeholders in the final decision to ensure buy-in and commitment. By using a structured decision framework, you can navigate conflicting opinions more effectively, ensuring that the chosen strategy is well-considered and strategically sound.