Joe said,
It sounds as if there is no real attempt to dig deeper and find out the
underlying concerns of the 'problem person'. What is it, this person what
quickly go along with group think? Is the rest of the group using Theory I
governing values?(Argyris)
Targeting and isolating the person seems like a violent approach to take with
a team memnber. Many of the other 'tactics' are similary distastful. Public
discussion of the real (undiscussables) issues obviously would be a more
palatable(sp) approach.
===================
Joe,
You may have missed the original posting in which someone asked for help dealing
with a person who was chronically counter-productive -- perhaops even hostile --
not only in teams, but in general. Ben Compton wrote a similar message just
today. I have actually spoken to many, many HR professionals about this issue.
The answere is that sometimes there is just no winning answer. I always hate
myself for giving up, but at times that is the only sensible thing to do. When
the need is for realistic solutions to pressing problems, when time really is a
factor as it usually is, then ways need to be found, and not just destroyed.
Some people really do only specialize in destroying. I personally do not agree
that it is management's job to solve all the quirks of all the people in their
organizations.
This is not to disagree with your essential point. We must be very careful not
to just shout someone down who may in reality have a better idea. We must
always encourge dissension as long as personal attacks are not part of the
dissent, and as long as it is understood that at some point, we are all working
to build something, not just destroy things. The original posting made me feel
that this was not a case of simply putting someone down, but was about much more
destructive behavior. The description was of someone who destroyed others'
ideas, but offered none of his own. Of someone who -- my interpretation --
sneered at people, was arrogant, condescentding, and in no way offered, or
apeared to want, to participate meaningfully in the team's work. If I was wrong
in that, then my words do not apply. Assuming I was right about the prework,
the attitude, about refusal -- not just passively, but actively -- to cooperate,
I stick by what I said.
--Rol Fessenden LL Bean, Inc. 76234.3636@compuserve.com
Learning-org -- An Internet Dialog on Learning Organizations For info: <rkarash@karash.com> -or- <http://world.std.com/~lo/>