John has a great idea. He knows it’s a great idea because, well…he’s the boss. He’s full of them.
Jane and Joe disagree. They know the idea won’t work because, well…they do the work. They crunch the numbers and numbers don’t lie.
Jane and Joe decide to tell John they disagree. They bring him numbers, examples, the lack of pros and the abundance of cons. They even bring an alternate plan. A plan with many more pros and many less cons. John, however, disagrees. Just as he’s disagreed with James and Jim, Jack and Jill, Jake and Jenna. And Sarah. Why? It’s easy. He’s mastered the skill of Disagreement Disagreement.
Disagreement Disagreement is the art of disagreeing with any and all ideas but your own. There can be better ideas, worse ideas, bigger ideas, even smaller ideas, but if it’s not your idea it’s just not good enough. If it was it would have been yours.
The true master of this skill can disagree without even listening to other options. Is it mine? No? Ok then, No.
Disagreement Disagreement concerns me because I have a feeling I’m a natural. I tend to get a case of tunnel vision when placed in a position of change. My ideas are on the other end staring back at me, while other ideas just sit in the dark. Disagreement Disagreement is too easy, but if a leader doesn’t listen to the dissent, if they treat the ideas of others like Dirty Harry treats bad guys, then they’re not only failing themselves, but their team.
As I approach leadership positions, I know I won’t agree with every idea but my own – no leader does, nor has to. Sometimes your way is simply the right way – but I can’t ignore those who disagree. I have to listen to them, learn from them, even be brave enough to admit they might be right. From a leader’s perspective, there’s no other way.
Comments
3 Responses to “Leadership Skill I Hope to Avoid #1 – Disagreement Disagreement”
really good!
really good!
I think in today’s business world good leadership skills. Leadership is different from each company, some strategy works in one organization, in one time and place, may well not work in another. We need good leadership skill to handle the organization in good manner. Good leadership is essential factor in every organization.