Shut Up. Listen. Win.

Have you ever been in a situation when getting your team to adopt your point of view feels like an uphill battle? Ever felt like you aren't being heard? Maybe you recognized that you aren't hearing the other person (and maybe don't really care)?

A recent Harvard Business Review interview faces this challenge head-on. It helps us understand why this happens and - more importantly - how a simple tactic can get you the "win", whether this is a club issue, an interpersonal challenge or a conversation with a co-worker, boss or client.

Practical Tips for Overcoming Resistance
Although many managers and leaders are under pressure to get things done quickly, pressuring subordinates frequently leads to resistance. This is not due to stubbornness as much as it is due those subordinates simply feeling overwhelmed by the volume of work they have. Emotions also come into play; for instance, if you're trying to get through to an irate customer or shareholder, it can be tough to break through the resistance their anger creates.

The full text of the interview is worth the few minutes it'll take to read. It's simple and direct... and gives you one simple phrase to remember: Shut Up and Listen.

What approaches have you tried to resolve an impass or conflict? What's worked? Just as importantly, what hasn't? Please share in the comments so we can learn from one another.