1 Align Goals

To mitigate conflicts between sales and operations, start by aligning their goals with the company's strategic vision. This means facilitating discussions that lead to a mutual understanding of how each department's objectives contribute to the bigger picture. Encourage collaboration by setting shared targets that require input from both teams. For example, if sales is tasked with increasing revenue by 20%, operations could focus on scaling production capacity to meet the anticipated demand. This shared goal-setting fosters a sense of partnership and shared responsibility for project outcomes.

2 Communicate Clearly

Effective communication is the backbone of managing conflicting priorities. Establish open channels where sales and operations can share insights, challenges, and progress updates. Regular meetings, clear documentation, and a collaborative project management platform can help maintain transparency. This ensures that both teams are aware of each other's activities and constraints, reducing the potential for misalignment and frustration. Encourage both teams to voice their concerns and suggestions, creating an environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and acted upon.

4 Leverage Technology

Technology can be a unifying force between sales and operations. Implement systems that enhance visibility across the supply chain and customer relationship management. For example, an integrated enterprise resource planning (ERP) system can help operations understand demand forecasts from sales in real-time, allowing for more responsive production planning. Similarly, customer data platforms can provide sales with insights from operations that inform more realistic selling strategies. By leveraging technology, both teams can operate with a shared base of knowledge and understanding.