05-29-2026IMPACT COUNCIL

The leadership skill that unlocks better outcomes

Bridge building helps people stay focused on what they want, especially when emotions and advisors are pulling them off course.

[Photo: Getty Images]

The Fast Company Impact Council is an invitation-only membership community of top leaders and experts who pay dues for access to peer learning, thought leadership, and more.

As founder, chair, and CEO of the Exceptional Women Alliance, I am privileged to engage with extraordinary female leaders across industries. This month, I spoke with Britt Ide about one of the most overlooked—and essential—leadership skills: building bridges. An engineer, lawyer, and seasoned board director, Ide has spent her career navigating high-stakes negotiations, from major deals to complex disputes.

Q: Explain “bridge building” in leadership

Ide: Bridge building is the discipline of turning tension into better outcomes. It starts with a mindset shift: Instead of avoiding conflict, welcome constructive conflict. And then use it productively. Bridge building creates win-win solutions in complex situations. It is getting to a result where both sides achieve what matters. That requires asking better questions, surfacing what is driving each party, and expanding the range of possible solutions.

Q: Why is this especially critical in high-stakes situations like mergers and acquisitions?

Ide: In M&A, the visible negotiation is only part of the story. Underneath the financial terms are emotions, identity, and incentives that can make or break a deal.

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