As a program manager managing the development of new products or leading the implementation of a CAD or PLM system, it is routine to have situations where people disagree, and resolving those differences of opinion is integral to the success of the project.

After years of working to resolve differences of opinion, here are some personal tips I have developed to help resolve differences:

• Don’t allow the discussion to become emotional or personal, make sure to keep the conversation “pleasant” and friendly. If needed, take a break and agree to discuss it later.
• Stay focused on the topic, avoid going off on tangents which can convolute the issue.
• Make sure each party understands the issue from the same perspective, sometimes providing an overview of the situation is needed.
• Keep the conversation objective and not subjective, when possible, use quantitative comments instead of qualitative comments.
• Document the issue with a schematic or illustration. Proper documentation helps to make sure people see the issue objectively and keeps it from becoming personal.

These are just a few tips, there is no perfect approach to reach agreement, since everyone is unique and handles disagreements differently. If you have some additional approaches, please leave a comment. None of the content in this post is written with AI.  This content has all been learned at the school of hard knocks.