How do you ensure alignment when you have two senior executive stakeholders who disagree with each other on the proposed strategy and you are stuck in the middle?

That’s a great question, and I can’t tell you how many times leaders find themselves in these situations. It’s tempting to side with the leader who has stronger clout with the CEO, but that can create long-term challenges and issues during execution. As with most things, the answer often lies somewhere in the middle. The real work is in getting everyone aligned toward the common goal, regardless of the strategy chosen. As long as the organization’s goal remains clear and you can secure support f ...Read More

This is a tough one! In this situation, I would do my best to flex my diplomatic skills. Draft up communication that includes both Execs  (with some other relevant stakeholders if possible) and do your best to lay out the pros and cons of both options, doing your best to appear as neutral as possible and then push these execs to make a decision one way or the other. If you feel very strongly that one option is the correct one, and you have facts to back this up, do not walk away from an opportun ...Read More

To align two disagreeing senior executives (internal or customer C-Suite) on a proposed strategy while staying neutral as a Customer Success Leader, focus on shared objectives and diplomacy. Here’s a concise approach: Anchor to Shared Goals: Highlight the company’s or customer’s strategic objectives (e.g., “Both strategies support our goal of 10% LTV growth”). Use data to show impact (e.g., “Reducing churn saves $300K; upsell adds $400K”). Propose a solution blending both views (e.g., “Pilot one ...Read More

Situations like this require tact, patience, and an ability to see the bigger picture. I approach them much the same way I would with any two people who are in disagreement but need to find a path forward together. One of the first things I focus on is making sure neither person feels backed into a corner. If someone is forced to defend their position aggressively, it becomes harder for them to change their mind later without feeling like they have lost credibility. Instead, I look for ways to g ...Read More

Ensuring alignment between senior executive stakeholders who disagree on a proposed strategy can be challenging but is crucial for the success of the project and the organization. Here are some strategies to help navigate this situation: Understand the Perspectives: First and foremost, make sure you fully understand the perspectives of both stakeholders. What are their concerns? What are their objectives? What are the reasons behind their viewpoints? Find Common Ground: Identify the common goals ...Read More

My first career was in public accounting. I theoretically had 9 different partners that could give me work at any time. Those 7 years taught me how to navigate disagreements, especially in the middle of tax season when everyone was at their wits' end. A few suggestions come to mind: It's not binary. Don't get stuck thinking it's either A or B. Is there a third way? Chip and Dan Heath in their book Decisive talk about "narrow framing". We often get ourselves riled up because we only see two forks ...Read More