Leadership is the ability to work with and through others to reach a common vision or goal. These are easy words and the practice is hard work. Daily there are moments where there is misalignment or my way is the right way. Whenever you or others are at an impasse it is time to get into the dirt and find common ground.

Here are a few good ways to build common ground:

Clarity: make sure everyone is on the same page on what is trying to be done, solved, moved or built.

Identify: find places where you are in agreement and where you are not in agreement.

Explore: where you are not in agreement and identify what works with each of your recommendations or approaches, and jointly agree on what needs to be present for each of you to go forward.

Search: identify skepticism, opinion, and judgment and replace it with facts, experience, best practices and discernment.

Collaborate: on what works from your approaches and jointly identify a go forward approach based on your common ground.

“Cooperation is the thorough conviction that nobody can get there unless everybody gets there.”
Virginia Burden