Explore how conflict, challenge and mixing it up with non-like minded people all have their place if we want to work effectively with others. That, and how some simple techniques such as asking others to write down their thoughts before discussion can make all the difference.
When was the last time you questioned an expert’s view or opinion? The status that comes with being perceived as ‘an expert’ can lead to expertise never being questioned and blindly followed, even when it leads to life and death outcomes.
Oranges came about from crossing the pomelo fruit with the mandarin. The story didn't stop there. The pomelo was then re-mixed back with the orange in order to give us the grapefruit, which was determined as a distinct fruit in its own right in 1837.
Interesting outcomes come from mixes. The same is true when we mix ideas together – particularly when we work with others to do so.
Think back to your team deliberations or those discussions that take place in the groups you are part of – who generally speaks first? When in a team or group setting, the best discussion usually happens when the most senior person or leader (assigned or self-appointed!) speaks last.
Do we get our best ideas alone or in groups?
When we’re alone our minds are free to wander and we can mull over ideas without distraction from others. We’re also freed from the constraints and problems of groups, such as not being able to express ideas equally, being prone to Groupthink if there’s not the diversity of views in the room, and worrying about the balance of introverts and extroverts, along with other group dynamic issues. However, if we only grapple with ideas individually, we may miss opportunities for new ideas that are sparked after being exposed to the ideas of others.
How often do we think we’ve understood the whole picture, only to find out our perspective has been one-sided and we’ve missed something? Red Teaming came about during the Cold War as a way of looking from the enemy's perspective. It was used to get people to put themselves in the position of the enemy in order to think through the less obvious and unanticipated scenarios that could then be planned for.
Go to someone outside of your usual network and draw from their different experiences and knowledge to help you find new ways of looking at your challenges. It’s an effective way of revealing ideas that you haven’t considered before.
When hearing new information or ideas, encourage yourself to write down your immediate ‘gut feel’ thoughts before they are lost, overshadowed or influenced by others.
Conflict can feel really uncomfortable, unprofessional and unproductive. Yet, avoiding conflict can come at the expense of understanding a situation more deeply. Conflict can help clarify issues and lead to better outcomes. After all, it’s the grit that makes the pearl.