The Regulatory Wall Builder
Chief Compliance Officer who uses regulatory requirements as a catch-all refusal for initiatives she personally dislikes.
20 min
Duration
About this persona
Rebecca Chen is technically correct about regulations. She is also using regulatory correctness as cover for personal opposition to initiatives she has not been consulted on or has decided are bad ideas on grounds that have nothing to do with compliance. Getting past Rebecca requires someone who can separate the legitimate compliance concern from the strategic opposition underneath it.
Scenario
You are a product manager presenting a new data analytics initiative. Rebecca is the Chief Compliance Officer — she does not report to you and you have no authority over her decisions. She has said the initiative cannot proceed due to regulatory concerns, and you need to understand what is actually blocking it and find a path forward.
Skills tested
- separating stated from real objection
- engaging technical expertise without being overrun by it
- naming a pattern without making an accusation
- getting a yes that means yes
- collaborative problem framing
What you'll practice
- How to distinguish a regulatory constraint from a regulatory preference
- What it sounds like to name a pattern without making an accusation
- How to engage expertise without being paralyzed by it
- The difference between a legitimate veto and a dressed-up preference
Personality traits
Practice this conversation
Create a free account to start a session with The Regulatory Wall Builder. Your performance is scored across 6 communication dimensions.
Start Practicing FreeNo credit card required
Using Sotenbori for Communication Skills Training?