Knowing how to deal with opposition is one of the qualities that distinguish great leaders. They know how to turn it into an opportunity for in-depth exchanges, allowing both a better understanding of the stakes and a more sincere commitment to the retained solution.

However, our reflexive reactions to criticism or resistance are often inadequate. Phillip G. Clampitt and Bob DeKoch put forth three traps to avoid:

– Unduly reassuring. Very frequently, resistance stems from concern about a situation of which the outcome is uncertain. It is then tempting to make promises to reassure people and thus win them over. But hiding uncertainty in this way is ultimately harmful, as trust will be undermined at the first disappointment.

– Taking the absence of explicit contestation for support. The more a leader finds themself in a position of authority, the greater the tendency to keep dissension silent or hushed. Being content to wait for responsible employees to express themselves would be counter-productive: it is up to the leader to seek out any dissonant voices.

– Listening to the most vindictive. The noisiest opinions do not necessarily represent the majority opinion, and relying on them does not help reach a consensus.

A checklist to keep in mind in order to handle opposition in a constructive manner.

Source: Five Ways Leaders Can Turn Pushback Into Progress, Phillip G. Clampitt, Bob DeKoch, MIT Sloan Management Review, October 2023.