Max Henry breaks down how to defuse tense supply chain conversations. Present facts, lay out options with their trade-offs, and be clear on timing. Stakeholders want certainty more than they want to win.
Heated conversations are definitely part of the job in supply chain. You know, our stakes are real, our stakeholders are real, and often a lot of us are sitting across lots of different stakeholders and those expectations are high. Something is not moving in the right direction, so people really care. So this is where we have those high-tension conversations. So the first thing we need to try to bring, I think, is clarity. Bring the facts, the options, the trade-offs, and the timing. I think intense moments, people want certainty and they need a clear picture of what's happening, what the risk is, and what the choices that you've got.
