“When we set up a scenario where one side is clearly wrong, we lose perspective on a possible solution.”
It was a casual comment made by a colleague on a Zoom meeting, but the sentiment should be posted in every meeting room in the land. Her point was that we need to keep the conversation in play to allow the possibility of coming to a synergistic solution and once we delineate with right/wrong, the door to that option closes.
Even more importantly, we need to remember this when we least see it — in the heat of the moment, during passionate arguments, and when we are infuriated by those on the “wrong” side. To prevent elevated emotions from creating unnecessary barriers, put this mantra in your notebooks and your brain as a reminder before you enter potentially polarizing conversations. Your goal is to continue pursuing common ground for as long as possible without prematurely ending the dialogue before you reach that space.
Thanks to Isabel.
