What do you think is the source of most disagreements between stakeholders, and how do you go about finding alignment?

Disagreements among stakeholders typically stem from three key factors:

• Differing underlying goals - Each stakeholder is optimizing for their primary goal and if these goals are conflicting, there will be a mismatch

• Varying strategies on how to achieve a goal - Especially in a world with limited resources, each stakeholder may have conviction in a different initiative, even if their goals are the same

• Cultural issues - There may be a communication gap or trust deficit that contributes to disagreements

To foster alignment and resolve disagreements:

• Prioritize communication - Encourage open, transparent conversation and bring people together in one room to avoid misunderstandings. In these situations it’s better to over communicate than under communicate

• Establish common goals - Identify shared interests and objectives to bridge differences and find common ground

• Leverage objective data - Employ both qualitative and quantitative data to help stakeholders make more informed decisions

• Nurture relationships - Invest in building positive, lasting relationships. Get to know stakeholders on a personal level and maintain connections even when not working on immediate projects together