Make room for a second explanation
A simple question that can make difficult conversations more productive.
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Suppose two teams disagree about why a handoff keeps slipping. One sees unclear requirements. The other sees competing priorities. Each explanation could reflect a part of the situation that the other team rarely sees.
Separate the observation from the explanation
Start by writing down what both teams can observe. A decision was delayed, or the same question came up in three meetings. Next, ask what each person believes led to it. Keeping those two steps separate gives the group a common place to begin.
Ask what would change your mind
Invite each team to name a piece of evidence that might change its explanation. The goal is to find a small thing that everyone can check together, such as where a decision was recorded or when a team learned about a change.
It helps to make room for a second explanation before deciding what to fix.