More effective meetings with shuttle diplomacy

Many product owners are familiar with this situation: you have a heated discussion in a meeting with stakeholders, but you can't come to a conclusion. Efficient meetings are the goal, but everyone sticks to their point of view and no one wants to move away from it. In this situation, shuttle diplomacy can help you to mediate!

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What is shuttle diplomacy?

As the name suggests, this model originates from diplomacy. The basic idea is that mediators mediate between two or more disputing parties by getting to know the parties' points of view in advance. To do this, these "mediators" meet with the parties individually and question the disputants about their positions. A meeting with everyone only takes place once the mediators have sufficiently understood both points of view and have already agreed on a possible solution with all parties in advance. Clear meeting rules are established to ensure the efficiency and structure of the meetings.

As a product owner, this system can help you in many situations - as it is often your job to mediate.

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What are the benefits of shuttle diplomacy?

Shuttle diplomacy has several advantages for you as a product owner. To keep it clear, here are the four most important points:

1. You save nerves and working time by reducing meetings with painful discussions.
2. You find a solution when the same people are always arguing about similar topics in meetings.
3. You intervene before unpleasant situations arise and don't have to actively participate in discussions for hours on end.
4. Meetings automatically become more solution-oriented.

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How does shuttle diplomacy work?

The principle is relatively simple: the interests of the parties are examined in separate meetings, with you as the mediator. This happens before the actual meeting. You then try to find an agreement. You give the reasons and explanations for the positions of both sides plenty of space in advance and find bilateral solutions that work for all parties. It is important to achieve tangible results that are acceptable to all parties.

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Goals and results of shuttle diplomacy:

• Lightness in the actual meeting
• Targeted communication
• Focus on finding a compromise and reaching an agreement
• Improving the meeting culture

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In which situations and meetings can you use shuttle diplomacy?

In principle, shuttle diplomacy is always helpful when it comes to a major meeting between several parties with different interests. Good examples are

• for roadmapping
• in planning for the use of new methods
• at meetings in which individual areas of your product team do not agree on the planning. Good examples are meetings such as roadmapping, planning for the use of new methods and meetings in which individual areas of your product team do not agree on the planning.

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Why does this system work? Tips and tricks

Shuttle diplomacy works because the various participants decide to disclose their interests to the mediator before the meeting and agree to a solution. This makes the actual meeting less heated and you ideally discuss a solution that you have already agreed with all parties before the meeting. In the meeting itself, the focus is on having all parties jointly confirm the previously decided solution.

Essentially, as a mediator, you bring both parties into line before they meet in a meeting.

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Conclusion

• Shuttle diplomacy helps you to avoid lengthy, time-consuming meetings without agreement in advance.
• Save everyone involved time and nerves by giving disputing parties room to present their arguments to you as a mediator before an important meeting.

What are your experiences with disputing parties and how do you resolve this in your team?

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