What do you do if your IT team is at odds over technical decisions?

1 Foster Dialogue

Encouraging open communication is essential when your IT team disagrees on technical decisions. Create a safe space where team members feel comfortable sharing their perspectives without fear of dismissal or retribution. This can be achieved through regular meetings focused on open-ended discussions, where every voice is heard and respected. It's important that you listen actively and acknowledge the merits of different viewpoints, as this can lead to a deeper understanding of the various options and the concerns driving each team member's opinion.

2 Define Objectives

Before diving into the specifics of any technical disagreement, ensure that everyone is clear about the project's overarching goals and objectives. By aligning the team on what success looks like, you can shift the focus from individual preferences to collective outcomes. Discuss how each technical option aligns with these goals and evaluate them based on their potential to meet the project's requirements. This approach helps in depersonalizing the conflict and centers the conversation on achieving mutual success.

3 Evaluate Options

Once you've established a dialogue and aligned on objectives, it's time to thoroughly evaluate each technical option on the table. This process should be systematic and include criteria such as scalability, maintainability, cost, and alignment with current infrastructure. Encourage your team to present data and facts supporting their positions, and consider bringing in an external expert or consultant if necessary. This fact-based approach can help to minimize emotional biases and focus on what's best for the project.

5 Implement Decisively

Once a decision has been made, it's crucial to implement it decisively. Any hesitation can undermine the decision and reopen debates, leading to further division. Communicate the decision clearly to all team members along with the rationale behind it. Ensure that everyone understands their role in moving forward and provide support where needed to facilitate a smooth transition. This decisive action demonstrates leadership and helps the team focus on the path ahead.

6 Monitor Progress

After implementation, closely monitor the progress to ensure that the chosen technical solution is meeting the objectives you've set out. This monitoring should include regular check-ins with the team and an open line of communication for any issues that may arise. If the solution isn't working as expected, be prepared to reassess and make adjustments. This adaptability shows your team that while decisions are made firmly, they are not set in stone and can be revisited if necessary for the success of the project.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?