When major stakeholders have extremely disparate objectives for a project, it is important to sit down and meet in the middle. Here's how you can do it:
Understand Stakeholders' Goals: Hear out each stakeholder's priorities, concerns, and motivations. Make their expectations clear and what they require from the project.
Find Common Ground: Seek intersecting interests or mutual gains that can be used to build harmony. Determine the things that there is a common agreement upon in terms of the project.
Facilitate Open Communication: Conduct simultaneous meetings where stakeholders are able to communicate their positions and concerns. Employ collaborative materials such as graphics to help align perceptions.
Align on a Joint Vision: Collaborate to develop a joint project vision that includes major goals from each stakeholder. Establish well-articulated, quantifiable objectives to which all can subscribe.
Negotiate Trade-offs: Compromise is key. Decide which goals can be negotiated and which cannot. Rank objectives according to project importance.
Set Clear Roles and Responsibilities: Make sure every stakeholder understands their role and how their objectives fit into the overall project vision. Set decision-making procedures for future conflict resolution.
Regular Check-ins: Schedule regular updates to monitor progress and keep alignment intact throughout the project. Be open to changing course if new understanding or needs are discovered.
Document Agreements: Maintain a record of agreements and decisions to prevent misunderstandings in the future and to keep all people aligned on the same page.
This practice mediates any differences and keeps all stakeholders aligned towards one goal, and hence the project can proceed smoothly.
