Healthy Disagreement in HR
Posted on Wednesday, April 29, 2009 by Frank RocheI 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.
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humanresourcespufnstuf
Apr 29th, 2009
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.
Bill Strahan
Apr 29th, 2009
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
Apr 29th, 2009
@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.
Mark Walsh
Apr 30th, 2009
“It’s not about agreement it’s about understanding and coordination”
May have made that up…may not have
Mark
http://integrationtraining.co.uk/
Frank Roche
May 1st, 2009
@ Mark Walsh I like it…let’s say you made it up. That is a very good one!
Frank Roche
May 1st, 2009
@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.)