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In real estate and legal terms, “common ground” is, essentially, ground that is owned by more than one person.

They have shared interest in a common property. Now, they may have vastly different ideas on what should be done with or on that property, but the key factor is that they share the same “common ground.”

Thus, the term “common ground” means you and another person have something in common. This could be a shared value, goal, idea, business, asset, interest, or relationship. In almost any situation, you can find common ground.

But here’s the thing: many leaders fall short of finding common ground.

Finding common ground means digging beneath the obvious and finding the values, goals, and ideas that underly the passion.

For example, a leader may want to focus on the growth of the company. And so, the CEO brings his idea to the board.

“If we borrow this admittedly large amount of funds, I project the growth will accelerate and we can double our distribution in six months. We will be able to pay off the loan in 15 years while also growing into new and expanded markets.”

Expecting solid support, he is surprised when key board members question the idea.

“Our debt-to-equity ratio is already highly leveraged. Instead of growth, we should be focused on cutting costs and getting the company stabilized.”

Now, in a real-world scenario, this is enough to cause a stalemate, with the spenders and the savers in distinctly separate courts.

But wise leadership means finding the common ground between these two groups who each think they are right and the other is wrong.

The answer lies in finding common ground.

“Wait, let’s get beneath the idea of passionate growth and persistent penny-pinching here. What is our common goal?” says the Chairman.

“Well, what we really want – what we all really want – is to create a prosperous, healthy company that serves our people well,” said the CEO, as he scanned the room to see heads nodding in agreement.

“Yes,” said the Chairman. “Let’s start there.”

From that point, communication and ideas can flow freely, simply because they are focused on common ground.

Starting with the “how” and details generally tends to divide groups; but finding common ground brings them together. And then the “how” on the backend is more easily resolved and determined.

My mentor, John Maxwell, talks about finding common ground in his book, Leadershift: 11 Essential Changes Every Leader Must Embrace.

He makes a key point – that finding common ground is the difference between Directing (where it is all about you) and Connecting (where it is about connecting with others).

Finding common ground is connecting to others in order to safely reach higher ground.

How Can You Find Common Ground?

Listen to Others – Instead of talking at your team or competitor, consider listening to what they are saying. If you listen intently, you will start to pick up on their values and the things that drive their passion. And, like the CEO and board, you will likely find an underlying value that will serve as a catalyst for ideas that drive both growth and security.

Work Together – Think about it. If you have a common goal, you are no longer wasting energy to prove your point. You are not working alone; you are working in tandem with a team that has a shared common goal. The collective energy will propel you forward. Where you have differences of opinion, you can weigh them against your common-ground goal and solve for that.

Look for Strengths – While it may be natural to want a team that thinks and works exactly like you, this can sometimes have disastrous results. This is because it lacks the checks and balances of different strengths. Discuss common ground and then form a team that reaches the goal, while also valuing different strengths.

Be Humble – This one comes from John. There are times when you, as a leader, will find that maybe your way wasn’t the best way after all. Be willing to admit that you need others when, as John says, the dream becomes bigger than you.

Define the Why– Take time to define the “why” before the “how”. The “why” is your common ground. How you get there will vary by individual. If decisions must be made, defining the “why” gives you a clear basis for decision-making. It is enough to turn a stalemate into a healthy discussion that leads to collaborative action.

When it comes to life and business, finding common ground leads to higher ground.

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!