DDC Week 11/100

Navigating Stakeholder
Disagreement

Welcome to the eleventh edition of Digital Design Compass: Weekly Newsletter! In this edition, we dive deep into navigating challenging stakeholder relationships in design.

10:39 min listen
3 min read

Arjun Phlox

Karthi Subbaraman

Design is a team sport where alignment, understanding, and customer obsession drive successful outcomes.

Highlights from the video

Listen & Diagnose
Dive deep into the root cause of design objections by practicing active, non-defensive listening. Uncover the underlying communication gaps or misaligned goals that fuel stakeholder concerns, transforming initial resistance into a pathway for mutual understanding.


Collaborate, Don't Compete
Shift the conversation from a battleground of competing ideas to a collaborative workshop. Frame discussions as shared challenges that invite stakeholder insights, creating an environment where collective problem-solving becomes the primary goal.

 

Objectify the Discussion
Remove emotional barriers by introducing data, research, and objective criteria. Present multiple design options ranging from minimal to ideal, allowing stakeholders to engage with concrete alternatives and evaluate solutions through a rational, evidence-based lens.

 

Focus on the Customer-Centric Resolution
Transcend personal ego and organizational politics by anchoring every discussion in customer success. Build and maintain professional relationships that prioritize finding the most effective solution, recognizing that design is ultimately about delivering value to the end-user.

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