Managers are at odds in a strategic meeting. How can you effectively mediate their dispute?

Action: Listen actively to each manager's perspective without interruption. Personal Experience Insight: In my experience, creating an environment where each party feels heard and understood can defuse initial tension. For example, during a financial planning session, allowing team members to express their concerns without fear of immediate rebuttal helped uncover underlying issues and prevented the conflict from escalating.

To effectively mediate a dispute between managers in a strategic meeting: 1. Remain neutral: Maintain impartiality and avoid taking sides. 2. Encourage open communication: Create a safe space for both parties to express their perspectives. 3. Active listening: Pay attention to their concerns, ask clarifying questions, & paraphrase their statements. 4. Focus on interests: Help them identify the underlying interests, needs, & concerns driving their positions. 5. Seek common ground: Assist them in finding areas of agreement & shared goals. 6. Encourage collaborative problem-solving: Guide them to work together to find a mutually beneficial solution. 7. Avoid taking control: Empower the managers to own the solution & decision-making process.

The first step is to listen to both sides. Understanding each point of view will effectively determine how you will respond. The second step is to examine and evaluate what you were told in order to make an effective decision based upon what was learned.

Disagreement or conflict is a positive energy when tamed and oriented to constructive results. From my perspective, I never aim for a compromise, as this would be counterproductive and frustrate all parties. Ground rules must assume that all conflicting points of view: - Are constructive and don't pursue a personal agenda - Are aligned with the team goal - Have been prepared and accounted for in a fact-based preparatory work If a dispute grows and stays unresolved, the meeting owner should take responsibility to: 1. Let each one make a clear and concise point 2. Summarize each standpoint of each person involved 3. Propose a structured approach to follow up and make constructive decisions in the near future

Revisar siempre alternativas y diferentes escenarios nos permite encontrar soluciones, además encontrar los diferentes beneficios frente a la decisión también ayudará a tomar decisiones informadas y que sean la mejor alternativa para todos

Action: Encourage brainstorming without judgment to generate a wide range of possible solutions. Personal Experience Insight: Facilitating an open brainstorming session can reveal innovative solutions. I once guided a team through a structured brainstorming process where no idea was dismissed outright. This led to creative solutions that satisfied all parties involved

Action: Develop an action plan with clear responsibilities and timelines. Personal Experience Insight: Implementation requires clear communication and follow-through. In my experience, assigning specific tasks and setting deadlines helped ensure accountability and progress. Regular check-ins were also crucial to address any emerging issues promptly.