Listen "How to Turn Your Enemies into Collaborators at Work, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD"
Episode Synopsis
Abstract: This article outlines research-backed strategies for leaders to transform opponents in the workplace into allies through cooperative engagement and compromise. It discusses the importance of understanding different perspectives before taking action, in order to gain insight into motivations and build trust. Leaders should then refocus discussions around shared interests like profitability, employee well-being and organizational success that both sides want to achieve. Building personal connections through casual interactions helps humanize opponents. Validating opposing views through restating concerns and acknowledging weaknesses preserves opponents' dignity. Finding areas of common ground and brainstorming compromise options that incorporate all perspectives can then build consensus. Leaders must relinquish aspects of favored positions graciously and follow through on agreements to solidify new allies invested in mutual success. The article provides case studies of organizations that successfully navigated adversarial dynamics through open-minded, relationship-focused strategies like roundtables, joint problem-solving initiatives and emphasis on shared goals.
More episodes of the podcast The HCL Review Podcast
The Necessity of Computational Thinking in Modern Leadership, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD
05/01/2026
The Future of Work: 10 Predictions for Flourishing Workplaces in 2026, by Jonathan H. Westover PhD
03/01/2026
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.