Are We There Yet? vol. 257
A couple of weeks ago, we had some guests at our office, and during a discussion about managing conflict and resolving differences, one of our guests, Tamara, mentioned that she always assumes positive intent where there is a difference of opinion between two of her colleagues.
When I inquired as to exactly how she does that, she said that she enters the discussion with the two opposing sides with the assumption that both are trying to achieve a positive outcome to whatever they have differences about. She doesn’t assume that either person is just being difficult or has some ulterior motive in mind.
I can imagine that someone reading this is wondering if I’m being naïve, because sometimes, people do have negative intent or unstated goals. I’m not suggesting that we be unrealistic in our assessments. Rather, I’m suggesting that we enter those conversations with a more positive mindset, avoiding preconceived notions based on personality, prior experiences, etc. If there are negative intentions, we’ll discover that soon enough and can take appropriate actions.
Assuming positive intent is not as easy as one might think. Most of us make judgments ahead of conversations based on people’s personalities or prior interactions. It takes some effort, and I personally don’t expect 100% adherence. The efforts I have made so far have led to more productive conversations and a better understanding about the issue and the people involved.
Take care and stay safe.
BOOK:
Bronshtein in the Bronx by Robert Littell
January 12, 1917: An ocean liner docks in New York Harbor. Among the disembarking emigrants is one Lev Davidovich Bronshtein—better known by his nom de guerre, Leon Trotsky. Bronshtein has been on the run for a decade, driven from his beloved Russia after escaping political exile in Siberia. He lives for—and is ready to sacrifice his life for—a workers’ revolution, at any cost. But is he ready to become an American?
In the weeks leading up to the February Revolution that will eventually see Lenin’s Bolsheviks seize power, Bronshtein haunts the streets, newspaper offices, and socialist watering holes of New York City, wrestling with the difficult questions of his personal revolutionary ideology, his place in his own family, his relationship to Lenin, and, above all, his conscience.
Learn more about Bob Len here.
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