Your team is divided by deeply entrenched viewpoints. How can you guide them towards a productive discussion?

Guiding a team with entrenched viewpoints toward productive discussion involves: 1. Set ground rules: Establish respectful communication guidelines. 2. Encourage active listening: Ensure team members listen to understand, not just respond. 3. Find common ground: Identify shared goals or values. 4. Facilitate open dialogue: Create a safe space for all viewpoints. 5. Use a neutral facilitator: Consider a neutral third party to guide the discussion. 6. Focus on facts: Use objective data to support viewpoints. 7. Break down issues: Tackle complex issues in smaller parts. 8. Encourage empathy: Ask team members to understand different perspectives. 9. Summarize action items: Clearly outline next steps.

Establishing ground rules is crucial when guiding a team with deeply entrenched viewpoints. Create an environment of respect and open communication, where everyone feels safe to express their thoughts. Encourage active listening and an open-minded approach. Setting these foundations fosters a constructive exchange of ideas, leading to productive discussions and a collaborative resolution.

1. Acknowledge differences: Listen to and validate each perspective to understand the reasons behind the entrenched viewpoints. 2. Identify shared goals: Encourage them to focus on their common goal and desired outcomes, beyond their disagreements. 3. Set ground rules: Collaboratively establish guidelines for respectful communication, active listening, and constructive dialogue. 4. Seek mutual understanding: Focus on comprehending each other's perspectives, rather than convincing one another.

Establishing ground rules is crucial when dealing with a team divided by deeply entrenched viewpoints. Create a safe and respectful environment that encourages open communication and active listening. Set guidelines for constructive dialogue and ensure everyone feels heard and valued. By establishing a foundation of respect and open-mindedness, you can foster a productive discussion that leads to finding common ground and resolving conflicts.

Encourage active listening by having each person summarize the other's viewpoint before responding. Establish ground rules for respectful dialogue and focus on common goals. Use structured formats like brainstorming or SWOT analysis to guide discussions. Emphasize collaboration over competition, and seek to understand the underlying concerns driving the differing viewpoints.

- Conduct individual interviews with each team member to understand their perspectives, concerns, and the reasons behind their viewpoints. - Analyze the interview data to identify common themes, patterns, and recurring issues that reveal the root causes of the division. - Assess the team dynamics, including power dynamics, cliques, and the level of trust and psychological safety within the team. - Examine the decision-making process within the team, including any imbalances or lack of inclusiveness. - Explore the broader organizational context, such as the company's culture, policies, and leadership style, to identify any factors that may be exacerbating the division.

- Uncover the issues - Find the shared aims - Emphasize the big picture - Appreciate diverse perspectives - Foster teamwork mindset

- Encourage the teams to actively listen to each other's perspectives without interruption to truly understand the reasoning and emotions behind the opposing viewpoints. - Remind the team of the shared goal and the greater good they are working towards. This can help shift the focus from individual positions to the collective mission. - Encourage team members to step into each other's shoes and try to understand the situation from the other's point of view. - Create a safe environment where team members feel comfortable expressing their doubts and uncertainties. - Encourage the team to work together to find creative solutions that address the underlying concerns of all parties.

- Remind them of the common purpose that brought them together, and encourage the team to explore compromise solutions that incorporate elements of each viewpoint. - Introduce structured discussions where team members can respectfully express their views, ask questions, and seek to understand each other's perspectives.

Learn to operate with a scout mindset instead of a soldier mindset. When you have a soldier mindset you think that opposite ideas or concepts are your enemies, and you want those shot down. This mindset is rooted in emotions, aggression, and tribalism. The scout mindset is about understanding, not defending our beliefs. The scouts go out, map the terrain, & identify the real challenge. The scout mindset is rooted in curiosity. It is about being open-minded, learning new things, being intrigued when new facts contradict their beliefs, and not feeling weak when changing their minds. When you have a scout mentality you are strong and grounded, and your self-worth isn't tied to how right or wrong you are.