I’m Right, You’re Wrong
How many times a day do we think or say, “That is so stupid!”? The statement infers that we are smarter than someone else, that we are right and they are wrong. That attitude makes it impossible to find common ground in conflict resolution.
Where is that Getting Us?
This issue came up with two of my clients recently so I challenged them to come up with a non-judgmental word to substitute for “stupid.” It wasn’t easy letting go of that powerful feeling of being right, but they were each frustrated enough with the lack of progress in resolving their differences with colleagues that they agreed to work on it.
This is Smart!
The exercise enabled my clients to see things from the other person’s perspective, and that helped them move forward. How about you? Are you ready to try a new approach to achieving your objectives? If so, I invite you to consider an issue from the perspective of someone with whom you disagree. That’s not stupid; it’s smart!