Two HR colleagues are at odds over project priorities. How can you help them find common ground?

1. Facilitate a neutral discussion: Bring them together for an open conversation. Focus on understanding their perspectives. 2. Align with HR strategy: Remind them of the bigger picture 3. Assess urgency & impact: Evaluate the criticality of each project. Which has a more immediate impact on business needs or employee well-being? 4. Explore dependencies: See if the projects are interconnected. Could one be tackled after the other, or are there ways to work on them simultaneously? 5. Seek compromise: Can they break down the projects into smaller tasks and share the workload. 6. Focus on collaboration: Encourage teamwork.

Arrange private meetings with each colleague to discuss their perspectives on team dynamics, work challenges, and personal goals. Ensure these meetings are conducted in a comfortable and confidential setting. During the meetings, practice active listening to fully understand each colleague's viewpoints. Encourage them to express their priorities, concerns, and any obstacles they may be facing in their work. Document key points from each meeting to capture individual perspectives accurately. Summarize these insights to identify common themes, areas of alignment, and potential areas for improvement.

Review the notes and insights gathered from your one-on-one meetings with each colleague. Look for common themes, interests, and aspirations that emerged from these discussions. Organize a team meeting or workshop focused on aligning goals and fostering collaboration. Use this session to share anonymized insights from the individual assessments to stimulate open dialogue. Create a supportive environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their perspectives and contributing to the discussion. Encourage active listening and respect for diverse viewpoints.

Evaluate the urgency of each task based on its deadline or due date. Tasks with imminent deadlines should be prioritized to ensure timely completion and avoid potential delays. Assess how each task contributes to achieving the common goals identified earlier. Prioritize tasks that have a significant impact on advancing these goals and driving overall team success. Consider the availability of resources required to complete each task, such as time, budget, technology, and manpower. Prioritize tasks that align with available resources to maximize efficiency and minimize bottlenecks.

Foster a culture where open communication is encouraged and valued. Emphasize mutual respect, active listening, and constructive feedback among team members. Define the purpose and goals of the dialogue clearly at the outset. Ensure that everyone understands the topic, desired outcomes, and expectations for participation. Choose appropriate communication channels that facilitate open dialogue, such as face-to-face meetings, video calls, or dedicated team collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams).

Begin by reviewing the details and objectives of each colleague's project. Understand the scope, timeline, resources required, and expected outcomes for clarity. Discuss and identify common goals or overarching objectives between the projects. Highlight any interdependencies or potential overlaps that could be leveraged for synergy. Define and clarify each colleague’s roles and responsibilities within their respective projects. Identify areas where collaboration or coordination is necessary to achieve shared goals.

Monitoring progress can help HR colleagues find common ground by providing visibility into project timelines, milestones, and achievements. Start by regularly tracking and updating progress through meetings or project management tools. This transparency fosters a shared understanding of where each colleague stands regarding their priorities and contributions. Analyze progress together to identify areas of overlap or dependencies that require collaboration. Use progress updates as opportunities to discuss adjustments or reallocations of resources based on evolving needs. This approach encourages constructive dialogue, mutual accountability, and ultimately, alignment on project priorities to achieve collective goals effectively.