Send to KindleLeaders and Conflict – Encourage Good Debate
If I want your opinion, I’ll give it to you!
Have you ever been in that situation? The boss just doesn’t want to hear any discussion. It’s his way or the highway. That attitude is all too common, but it can be the beginning of the end.
Leaders who are not secure in themselves find it difficult to encourage the kind of conflict that leads to better decisions. They fear that any serious debate or discussion will diminish their standing in the eyes of subordinates. Their fear leads to two serious problems.
Since they discourage healthy conflict, so will the leaders below them. That means few people in the organization are truly thinking, which leads to the second problem
When instead of thinking everyone is just accepting and going along, bad ideas become action and consequently bad things happen.
Flight crew members attend a specific type of training called Crew Resource Management. This training was developed after several mishaps were found to be at least partially caused by an authoritative attitude by pilots in command who were not willing to accept the input of other crew members. The training helped senior pilots learn how to accept and even encourage input without sacrificing their authority.
The best ideas, solutions, and goals are forged in the crucible of healthy conflict. You do want their opinion – ask for it!
