The First Meeting!
Ever notice how long it takes to resolve conflicts?
If you are in a disagreement with someone on an issue that requires alignment, coming to resolution is not a function of time, but of intent and purpose.
Delays are a function of time. The time it takes to resolve is a function of the "air" between actions, between meetings, between conversations. How often do we have a meeting and agree to have another meeting on the issue a week later?
I am a big fan of TRAF management in handling paperwork that comes across my desk. Once you pick up a piece of paper , do one of these for things with it to avoid procrastinating: Trash it, Read it, Action it, or File it. (TRAF). In other words, make sure you have dealt with it the first time!
Try to deal with the issue at hand and aim to resolve it in the first meeting! I had a boss many years ago who, after three board meetings of witnessing that another board member and I could not come to resolution, said to us " it has been three months and the two of you haven't resolved this. There is no issue that takes that much time for a decision. Any dispute or disagreement that takes three months to resolve can be resolved in three days, in three hours. You just have to make the time and have the purpose to get to a solution. Now get it done!"
He was right.
If you are in a disagreement with someone on an issue that requires alignment, coming to resolution is not a function of time, but of intent and purpose.
Delays are a function of time. The time it takes to resolve is a function of the "air" between actions, between meetings, between conversations. How often do we have a meeting and agree to have another meeting on the issue a week later?
I am a big fan of TRAF management in handling paperwork that comes across my desk. Once you pick up a piece of paper , do one of these for things with it to avoid procrastinating: Trash it, Read it, Action it, or File it. (TRAF). In other words, make sure you have dealt with it the first time!
Try to deal with the issue at hand and aim to resolve it in the first meeting! I had a boss many years ago who, after three board meetings of witnessing that another board member and I could not come to resolution, said to us " it has been three months and the two of you haven't resolved this. There is no issue that takes that much time for a decision. Any dispute or disagreement that takes three months to resolve can be resolved in three days, in three hours. You just have to make the time and have the purpose to get to a solution. Now get it done!"
He was right.
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