How can you resolve conflicts with stakeholders who have different technical proficiency?

1 Assess your stakeholders' needs and expectations

Before you start working on a GIS project, you need to understand who your stakeholders are, what they want from the project, and how they prefer to receive and use the information. You can do this by conducting a stakeholder analysis, where you identify and prioritize the key people or groups who have an interest or influence in the project. You can also use surveys, interviews, or workshops to gather feedback and insights from your stakeholders. This will help you tailor your GIS deliverables and communication style to their needs and expectations.

4 Solicit and address feedback and questions

Another important aspect of resolving conflicts with stakeholders is to solicit and address their feedback and questions throughout the project. You should create opportunities for dialogue and interaction with your stakeholders, such as meetings, presentations, reports, or emails, where you can share your progress, findings, and recommendations, and invite their comments, suggestions, or concerns. You should also listen actively and respectfully to their feedback and questions, and respond to them in a timely and constructive manner. You should acknowledge their perspectives and inputs, and explain how you incorporated them into your GIS work or why you did not. You should also clarify any misunderstandings or misconceptions that they may have about your GIS work or its implications.

5 Demonstrate the value and impact of your GIS work

Finally, to resolve conflicts with stakeholders, you should demonstrate the value and impact of your GIS work on the project and its goals. You should show how your GIS work can help your stakeholders solve their problems, make decisions, or achieve their objectives. You should also highlight the benefits and outcomes of your GIS work, such as cost savings, efficiency, accuracy, innovation, or sustainability. You should also provide evidence and examples of how your GIS work has contributed to the project's success or improvement. By doing so, you can build trust and credibility with your stakeholders, and show them that you are working with them, not against them.

6 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?