| Your group is ready to vote on a motion that appears
to be simple and logical, when a member interjects and states concerns
about it. People get frustrated, especially since the concerns are
raised very late in the debate. They also dislike the fact that
the dissenting views are presented in a harsh and critical manner. As
this becomes a recurring pattern for this individual, some people stop
listening to him, even when he makes astute observations.
Sound familiar? And if so, how might you deal
with such a situation?
The key principle to consider is that the purpose of
shared decision making is to pool the knowledge and insights of the participants,
and thereby make informed, balanced and sustainable decisions. If
everyone had identical views on everything there would be no sense having
debates or meetings. With this in mind, dissent should not be looked
down on, but should be celebrated.
What should be done? First, the group needs to
learn to slow down and be patient. It should not insist on simplicity
and expediency, since they may lead to flawed decisions that the group
may live to regret. The Chair may need to discuss key principles
with the group: “The desire for expediency and simplicity is
laudable, but we owe the community a duty to scrutinize proposals carefully.
We need to listen to all comments with open minds, regardless of whether
we like or dislike the people who present them, and regardless of the
tone with which they are presented.”
As a second step, it may be productive to speak privately
to the dissenting member: “We appreciate your care and attention
to detail and would never want to lose them. Having said that, it
would be very helpful if you could present your comments early in discussions,
so we can adjust our thinking then and not when we’re ready to vote.
It would also be helpful if you could soften the tone of your comments
and show respect to other people. Finally, you might consider going
beyond stating concerns, and also make suggestions to address them.
How does this fit with you?”
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