Getting people aligned to achieve a common organizational goal is often more complex than it appears. Each department or team has its own set of targets, goals, and priorities, with individuals focused on their specific objectives. But what happens when another department becomes a bottleneck to your progress? Your success depends on them, but for them, it’s not a priority.
What you should do then?
- Open Communication: Start by having a conversation with the team that’s causing the bottleneck. Share the bigger picture and explain how their delays are impacting your progress and, ultimately, the organization. Sometimes, people don’t realize the ripple effect of their actions.
- Align Goals: Frame the situation in terms of mutual benefits. Find a way to show how helping you can help them achieve their goals as well. This can create a shared sense of purpose.
- Collaborate on Solutions: Instead of just pointing out the problem, work together to find solutions. Can processes be streamlined? Are there resources they need to help them prioritize your request?
- Escalate if Necessary: If the situation doesn’t improve and it’s critical for the organization’s success, it might be necessary to involve leadership. Sometimes, making the issue visible to upper management can help prioritize the task.
- Manage Expectations: While trying to solve the bottleneck, communicate with your own stakeholders. Keep them in the loop on progress and challenges. Managing expectations helps mitigate frustration if things don’t go as planned.