Roleplay Scenario
Scenario Overview
Your team is working on a project that requires close collaboration with a partner team. Lately, you've noticed some bumps in the road—miscommunications and unmet expectations are causing friction and slowing things down. You want to have a straightforward conversation to clear the air and find a better way to work together.
Roles & Setup
Role A – Team Lead (You)
You've noticed the tension rising and want to tackle it head-on.
Your goal: Pinpoint what's not working, suggest practical solutions, and keep things positive and productive.
Role B – Partner Team Lead
You've sensed the friction too and are keen to understand both sides to make things better.
Your goal: Find common ground, clarify what's needed from both teams, and improve how you work together.
Suggested Openers
Team Lead:
- “Hey, can we chat about how our teams are working together? I think we can make things smoother, especially with priorities and communication.”
- “I’ve noticed a few hiccups in how we’re handling project updates. Can we brainstorm some ways to fix this?”
Partner Team Lead:
- “Sure, I’ve noticed some bumps too, especially with aligning priorities. Let’s figure out what’s going wrong and how to fix it.”
- “I’m glad you reached out. I think talking this through could help us get on the same page, especially about what’s most critical.”
Sample Roleplay in Action
Team Lead:
“Thanks for sitting down with me. I’ve been seeing some misalignments between our teams, like with task hand-offs and communication. For instance, the recent delay on [Project Y] seemed to happen because our priorities didn’t match up. What do you think?”
Partner Team Lead:
“I’m glad you brought this up. We’ve felt the disconnects too, especially when timelines change at the last minute. It’s been tough to keep up, especially when priorities shift unexpectedly.”
Team Lead:
“Totally agree. Maybe we could have regular check-ins to sync up our schedules and expectations better? And a shared task management tool might help us all stay updated in real-time.”
Partner Team Lead:
“That sounds like a solid plan. A shared tracker could really help us avoid surprises. Also, maybe we could set some ground rules for urgent changes?”
Team Lead:
“Great idea! We could use it to document any changes and make sure everyone’s in the loop. And setting a protocol for urgent changes would definitely help avoid those last-minute scrambles.”
Partner Team Lead:
“Let’s try that. I’ll set up a shared document and we can test it over the next sprint. We can tweak it as we go. I’ll also draft some guidelines for handling urgent changes.”
Team Lead:
“Sounds perfect. I’ll loop in my team so they’re aware. I’m hopeful this will really boost our collaboration.”
Partner Team Lead:
“Thanks for being proactive about this. I’m looking forward to seeing how these changes work for us.”
Post-Scenario Tools
Curveball Mode (Optional)
Introduce one of these during the conversation to test adaptability:
- One team faces an unexpected resource shortage, adding pressure.
- A misunderstanding about priorities arises mid-discussion.
- A senior stakeholder suddenly requests an urgent update about the collaboration.
Reflection Checklist
As the Team Lead:
- Did you approach the situation constructively without assigning blame?
- Did you propose actionable solutions tailored to specific challenges?
- Did you actively listen to the other team’s concerns?
As the Partner Team Lead:
- Did you maintain an open and understanding approach?
- Did you contribute positively to finding solutions?
- Did you ensure your team’s needs were communicated clearly?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Letting emotions drive the conversation.
- Ignoring the other team’s perspective.
- Focusing only on problems without suggesting solutions.
- Ending the discussion without actionable next steps.
Pro Tip
Think of these discussions as chances to strengthen teamwork and improve processes. A collaborative mindset not only solves current issues but also sets the stage for future success.