You might think that when everyone’s on the same page, it’s all rainbows and unicorns, but that’s hardly ever the case. What looks like smooth sailing on the surface often masks some serious undercurrents of tension.
In my experience, real agreement doesn’t just happen magically. It’s like making a good stew – you need to mix in some spices. Well, those spices are the different opinions and ideas that come from a bit of healthy arguing.
I’ve seen it time and time again – when people are too scared to speak up or they’ve been shut down before, you end up with a room full of nodding heads but not much else. It’s like everyone is playing a silent game of “agree to disagree” without ever voicing opposition or getting anything done.
But here’s the thing: conflict is rarely a bad thing. In fact, it’s often the secret sauce that makes consensus actually work. When you’ve got people throwing around different perspectives and hashing out ideas, that’s when the real magic happens.
Next time you’re in a meeting and everyone seems a little too agreeable, maybe it’s time to stir the pot a bit. Embrace the disagreements, listen to what everyone has to say, and who knows? You might just cook up something amazing together.
__________________
Hi, I am Fiona McKenzie and I think everything in life is better when we face the tough stuff.
Having spent the last few decades as a negotiator and mediator, it’s clear to me that while avoiding conflict is natural, it’s when we face it and indeed seek it out that we can make progress.
To do this well, leaders need to be able to:
- negotiate agreement
- mediate conflict
- facilitate alignment
Those who are skilful in these areas are better leaders and can make progress faster on all fronts.
Contact me for an initial briefing around how I can help you and your team face the tough stuff and make progress.