Product Worker: Conflict with Stakeholders – From Tension to Resolution

This episode is about managing conflict with stakeholders. Conflicts are almost inevitable in product management, as different interest groups often pursue conflicting goals. Bernd Joussen, an experienced coach for team development and conflict management (and also a conflict mediator), shares his insights with Tim Klein on how Product Owners can successfully handle such stress and conflict-filled situations.

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Understanding and Resolving Conflicts

Bernd explains that conflict arises when two or more parties pursue different interests and their demands or expectations collide. He emphasizes the importance of consciously distinguishing between structural and interpersonal conflicts. While some often result from conflicting company goals, for example due to a lack of strategic orientation or technical limitations, others are more related to personal or team-internal tensions.

There are specific areas of conflict in organizations, such as conflict over limited resources or different priorities, for example conflict between marketing and product development. Such tensions often increase when stakeholders seek to strongly assert their interests. This is where product owners can start by fostering a culture of empathy and mutual understanding. Bernd recommends the Johari Window as a helpful tool that helps team members uncover blind spots and strengthen trust by consciously sharing their needs.

When a hijacker is on your Facebook

Another valuable tip of Bernd’s is the so-called conflict map, a visual tool that clearly shows the relationships and tensions between different actors. Lightning bolts and arrows may be used to represent problematic connections or gaps in communications. This method creates clarity and helps the entire team recognize conflict patterns and address them in a targeted manner.

Learn and maintain a culture of debate

Maintaining a healthy culture of debate is important to Bernd. If conflicts are managed constructively they can strengthen the team because they provide room for innovation and further growth. Product owners can support this dynamic by receiving feedback regularly and learning to deal with criticism confidently. Kim Scott’s book “Radical Candor” is helpful for this, as it offers a practical approach to honest and respectful communication.

As a practical tip for anyone who wants to improve their collaboration, Tim Klein offers the document “How to work with me”. It is a kind of “operating manual for me” that describes personal preferences and needs so that the team can better respond to me (and my characteristics and expectations about how I should be treated). This not only strengthens communication, but can also help prevent potential conflicts.

Conflicts are part of everyday life – and have creative potential

This episode with Bernd Joussen makes it clear that conflicts with stakeholders are part of the everyday life of the Product Owner and should not be avoided, but used constructively. So product owners should not be afraid to bring in external support from trainers or mediators like Bernd Joussen to facilitate conflict resolution and promote team collaboration.

Further episodes and information

These previous episodes are referenced in this episode:

Bernd Joussen recommended the following tools and books in an interview:

Tim Klein also mentions the “How to Work with Me” manual, which was based on an idea by Claire Hughes Johnson (“How to Work with Me”).working with claire“) is based on. There are further explanations Here,

If you have further questions for Bernd Joussen or would like to contact him, the best way to reach him is through LinkedIn Profile Or through his website,

The current version of the podcast is also available on the ProductWorker blog: “Managing Conflict with Stakeholders – From Tension to Resolution,

(May)