Friday, July 19, 2013

Missing Shared Values

Have you ever tried to solve problems with a group that is split on its values?

It's not easy.

When we can't agree on what is important it becomes incredibly difficult to stay centered and solve problems. Challenges get bigger when values are in conflict. Ideals turn into contests. Personalities create barriers instead of solutions. Even when ideas do emerge, they are strained and out of alignment.

The first step is to establish alignment. We need a shared mission, goal, and values. Without shared values, how can we ever agree on a solution that meets the needs of all constituents?

Once we agree on our values it becomes easier to solve our problems.

Could that be the place to start?

-- Douglas Brent Smith

at
Labels:

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

In Search...

  • Forget the Blame
    Blame can feel good, but it does not solve a problem. And to someone, that blame feels terrible. We don't need to blame anyone for the...
  • Solve Problems Together
    Centered problem solvers collaborate. When we involve other people we get better ideas, more cooperation, and more lasting solutions. Solv...
  • Today, I Will Be Like Water
    Sometimes a problem can feel like a wall. Here's my approach to that wall today... What's your approach to those walls that st...
  • In Search...
    A problem is a dynamic in search of a dance. -- doug smith  
  • Centered Selves
    When we are off center it impacts our results. Our solutions will seem 0ff-center as long as we are. Let's start by centering ourselves....
  • Personal Problems
    It's the system. Or maybe it's the process. It might not be you at all. It might not be your team at all. Personal problems come fro...
  • In Front
      Problems bring pain. Maybe it's physical, or emotional, or logistical-- as long as the problem is there, so is that pain. When we solv...
  • Take Responsibility for Your Problems
    When does centered problem solving begin? How do you start as a centered problem solver? We begin to solve our problems the moment we ta...
  • Walk Carefully To Solutions
    What happens when you jump to conclusions? I know that I've jumped to many conclusions and usually didn't like where those leaps t...
  • Pause With Uncertainty
    Leaders and others strain under the weight of not knowing. The tension of transition that is uncertain can feel unbearable. We want answers....