Healthy Disagreement in HR

Apr 29

I agree with everything you say, but I would attack to the death your right to say it.
–Tom Stoppard

We need healthy disagreement in HR. We are not lambs.

About the Author
Frank Roche

Frank started IFRACTAL over 7 years ago with Sarah Chambers. Together, they've created HR communications and HR software for some of the world's leading companies. Frank is also studying Flamenco guitar and origami.

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  1. Absolutely. Clearly we chose to disagree yesterday over on Punk Rock HR, and I think it is healthy and wonderful. A rule I’ve used in my experience came from a friend who was in the Isreali army, he taught me that when a group of leaders gathered to make a strategic decision, it was always the responsibility (I mean that in the full meaning of the word) of at least one person to disagree with the decision. It ensured that a decision would be fully considered. In my roles since then I’ve always made that part of my process. When my team meets, we never make a decision if everyone just agrees right away, this guarantees us active debate. It’s one of my favorite tools in my tool kit.

    • Frank Roche says:

      @HR Puf-n-Stuf You’re right, healthy disagreement is a good thing. Amazing idea that about how the Israeli army does it…Hr would do well to adopt that approach. Thanks for stopping by, my puffy friend. (BTW: You and Witchy-Poo were my favorite TV characters when I was a kid.)

  2. Bill Strahan says:

    If HR is really a “profession”, disagreement is essential to moving the profession forward. Just as in medicine or the law it is needed to advance thinking.

    Lawyers like arguing with other lawyers because it isn’t personal, it’s professional.

    • Frank Roche says:

      @Bill I do like how lawyers do it — advocate positions strongly, but it’s not personal. To outsiders it sure as hell looks like it is, but it’s not. I like what you say — being a professional requires disagreement.

  3. Mark Walsh says:

    “It’s not about agreement it’s about understanding and coordination”
    May have made that up…may not have :-)

    Mark
    http://integrationtraining.co.uk/

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