Actionable tips leaders can practice for stronger collaboration during difficult interactions.

A good working relationship often starts with good communication. The University of Colorado Boulder offers sound advice to its students that can easily be applied to the workplace. When finding common ground, the best thing to do is start by actively listening. This means making an effort to understand where the other person is coming from before responding, and asking questions to clarify.

By adopting the following additional behaviors, you can improve your active listening game (and lead by example). 

Focus on Common Goals by Looking at the Big Picture

The Talk: Instead of emphasizing differences, identify the shared objectives that both parties are working toward. Take a step back to see how diverse perspectives contribute to a stronger, more well-rounded solution.

How Leaders Can Walk the Talk: Whether it's a project deadline or an organizational goal, keep the conversation centered on mutual outcomes.

Find Common Ground

The Talk: Approach conversations with curiosity rather than a need to prove your point. Aim to learn the rationale behind the other person's views, thereby reducing defensiveness, uncovering shared aspirations, and opening up more productive dialogue.

How Leaders Can Walk the Talk: Acknowledge the validity of differing viewpoints and reframe disagreements as learning opportunities to find commonalities rather than conflicts to be resolved. Ask questions such as, “For what purpose? “What is important to you about…?” Seeking understanding helps shift the conversation into a solution everyone can rally behind. 

Stay Open-Minded

The Talk: Even if you disagree, be willing to entertain the possibility that the other perspective has merit. Flexibility in your thinking can lead to innovative solutions that wouldn’t be found otherwise.

How Leaders Can Walk the Talk: Be transparent about when a team member’s idea has changed your mind or a project’s direction. This encourages others to remain open to influence and new information.

Separate Ideas from People

The Talk: Don’t take disagreements personally. Focus on discussing the ideas rather than attaching judgments to the person sharing them. This helps maintain a collaborative atmosphere even during heated debates.

How Leaders Can Walk the Talk: Diffuse tension by emphasizing that a challenging conversation is about refining ideas, not questioning individuals' competencies or value to the team.

Encourage Constructive Conflict

The Talk: Rather than avoiding conflict, embrace it in a productive way. Set ground rules for respectful debates, and encourage team members to voice differing opinions while maintaining a collaborative tone.

How Leaders Can Walk the Talk: Foster a culture of constructive conflict by celebrating debates that lead to creative solutions and modeling how to disagree without derailing progress. When in doubt, respectfully agree to disagree.

By embodying these behaviors, leaders can create an environment where differing points of view are seen as valuable assets rather than sources of tension, encouraging their staff to work productively together even when their opinions clash.