Production vs Maintenance: Ending the Blame Cycle With One Conversation Shift

Production was frustrated. Maintenance felt blamed.
The same argument surfaced every month, just with different details.

Both sides wanted the same thing, uptime, quality, and fewer surprises, but their conversations kept them stuck.

What’s Really Going Wrong
Departmental conflict often is often about misaligned expectations and unclear communication.

The People-First Shift
People-First leaders shift the conversation from blame to shared outcomes.

Boss Talk: “You’re always behind.”
Guide Talk: “What do you need from us to succeed and here’s what we need from you.”

A Shared Outcome Question

“What does success look like for both of us this week?”

This reframes the conversation from “us vs them” to “we.”

Reflection Question for you
Where could shared goals reduce ongoing tension?

When departments communicate with clarity and respect, performance improves across the board.