Partners have conflicting priorities. How do you navigate effective communication in such situations?

Navigating conflicting priorities can indeed feel like being submerged in a pool of colorful plastic balls, desperately trying to figure out where to start. When overwhelmed, step back and gain perspective. Ask yourself, "What needs to be done today?" and prioritize tasks from least to most important. This broader view helps create a sensible to-do list. Develop a strategy. Planning is crucial. Spend time reviewing your priorities. A well-planned day saves energy and mental effort, as execution is already determined.

Start by identifying the core issues causing the conflicting priorities by stating the obvious... I mean you can sort of feel the issue, so grab it and identify that! They often start with differences in values, expectations, or desired outcomes. Once these are on the table, you can begin to address them directly. This process requires some patience, and the willingness to listen, as well as the freedom, and ability to express your own concerns without blaming or making assumptions about your partner's intentions.

It's important to create an environment where open, honest communication is encouraged. Even if the F-up is big, your partners and team NEED to know it;'s not the end of the world (even if it might feel like that for you). Set up a meeting dedicated to discussing the issues without interruptions, ensuring everyone feels heard and respected. It might help to have a 'talking ball' or something similar to show that the person holding the ball, is the one who is the one who's allowed to speak. I've only used this during some trainingsessions, because most partners/professionals have no problem having a proper conversation ;)

This can prove to be difficult sometimes. Especially in the commercial/creative world of eCommerce. I always encourage the team and partners to practice active listening by acknowledging and paraphrasing what the other party says. This can also be done by rephrasing the questions, or points of feedback before you answer. This way you're SURE that you understood, instead of making assumptions. This also helps to validate their feelings and shows that you are genuinely interested in understanding their perspective.

When partners disagree on priorities, good communication is vital. Active listening is a powerful tool here. It's about more than just hearing - it's understanding your partner's point of view. Here's how to do it: 1. Focus fully on what they're saying 2. Ask questions to clear up any confusion 3. Repeat back what you heard to check you got it right This approach does two important things: -It shows your partner you respect their ideas -It helps you find common ground you might have missed By really listening, you can turn arguments into problem-solving talks. Instead of butting heads, you'll work together to find solutions that work for both of you.

This can be rather difficult from time to time. As I mentioned in eCommerce, where creativity is a MUST a compromise for the creative team might feel like a huge no-go for the commercial team and vice versa. I'd say look for areas of agreement or shared goals like the number of leads, won deals, conversion growth, lower CAC, etc... Even in conflicting situations, there are often overlapping interests that can serve as a solid base for a good compromise.

After reaching an agreement, make sure that you outline clear and easy-to-follow action steps and assign responsibilities. I like to use our PRM tool to set-up some checkboxes that we need to cross out per stage, but this can also be done via Slack or a dedicated Notion page. Oce you've set up an easy-to-use 'checklist' make sure you regularly follow up to ensure that commitments are being met and to address any new issues that arise.