Explaining a difficult decision requires clarity and listening. For the decision to be understood and accepted, you need to detail the reasoning behind it and demonstrate that your team’s concerns are being considered.
Explain the logic behind the decision:
Why is it necessary, and what long-term benefits does it bring? It’s not enough to make a decision; you also need to explain it clearly. Start by answering two key questions: “Why?” and “For whom?” Show how this decision aligns with the organization’s goals and the advantages it will deliver over time.
Cooperating in spite (or thanks to) conflict
We live in an era of heightened antagonism and increasingly polarized debates. Reject this destructive spiral: Get to work on calming conflict, accepting differences and rebuilding bridges so you can restore constructive dialogue and healthy cooperation.
Practice active listening
To address concerns and show you value others’ emotions…
Actively listen to feedback and let the team express themselves, even if it’s not always pleasant. Show that you understand their emotions: “I know this is a difficult decision to accept, but here’s how we’ll move forward together.” This transparency builds credibility and helps ease frustrations.
Podcast
Fresh out of innovative solutions How about learning mindful and non-judging listening
Let’s play problem solving
Problem-solving can be a fun activity that strengthens team bonds. By practicing finding solutions, we train our cognitive skills for when they’ll be needed to tackle real challenges. Here are three ideas to get started…
The prison
The concept: Lock the participants in a room and give them 30 minutes to select 10 items that would help them survive if they were imprisoned for an extended period.
Good for: Enhancing group communication and collective decision-making.
The knot
The concept: Have participants form a circle and ask each person to hold the hands of two others who are not directly next to them, creating a human knot. The next step is to untangle the knot and reform a perfect circle without letting go of any hands.
Good for: Encouraging collaboration and flexibility.
The Legos
The concept: Ask your team to replicate a complex structure built with Legos of various sizes, colors, and shapes. Only one team member is allowed to view the model and must guide the others through the construction process.
Good for: Improving observation, memory, and communication skills.
To go further:
Top 15 problem-solving activities for your team to master by Brianna Hansen, (Wrike, may 2019).
High Conflict
By Amanda Ripley, Simon & Schuster, 2021