The reasons listed below are excuses we all use for not speaking out when we have concerns about a decision— concerns that can range from slight uncertainty to strong objection. Failing to speak out, however, prevents the group from hearing our true beliefs. Bad decisions are often made because of the “inaccurate data” groups receive from individuals who withhold their honest feedback.

1. I’m the newest member of the group.  I haven’t earned my voice at the table yet.

2. I don’t care enough about the issue under discussion to risk offending anyone.  It’s more important to me to avoid making waves.

3. I care a lot about this issue, but I care more about keeping my job.  I’m going to keep my mouth shut!

4. If I express my real opinions on this issue, someone will give me an extra assignment, or put me in charge of finding alternatives.

5. I’m not the expert.  Why would I know more about this than the rest of those sitting at the table?

6. I shouldn’t be at this meeting in the first place.  Who put me on the distribution list, anyway?

7. We’ve been through this a dozen times.  I’m tired of it.  Let’s decide something—anything—and just move on.

8. The project sponsor has put so much effort into this proposal, I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

9. I have reservations about this decision, but if it moves ahead as is, there’s a good chance I can get that part-time assistant I need.

10. Everyone at this table remembers the last time I voiced a concern.  It created all kinds of implementation delays and then turned out to be a non-issue.

11. It’s really up to my boss.  That’s why they pay her the big bucks.

12. Am I the only one awake at this meeting?  I wish the others would learn to participate and be more accountable for decisions that impact that impact their departments.

13. Whatever.  (as in, what-EH-ver).

14. It would be better if we studied this more, but I suppose you could say that about any decision.  I’m not going to mention it.

15. I’m good with details.  But, right now, no one in this room wants to hear about MY problems or concerns with the details.  I’ll wait until later.

To make this a training activity:

Put the list above on a handout for each team member.

Have each participant pick their 3 favorite “excuses” from the list, by circling the numbers of the three statements with which they most identify.  Note:  Encourage participants to be completely honest.  Assure them they will not need to verbally share their responses with anyone.  They do not need to put their name on the handout.

Ask each person to jot down, on a separate piece of paper, the numbers they circled on the handout and then have them pass the handout back to you.

Write the numbers 1 – 15 on a flip chart or white board and use tally marks as a volunteer reads the choices from each handout.  (You may want to take a session break while you tally the responses.)

Construct the group’s Top 5 List by recording the number of selections for Reason #1, Reason #2, etc.  Circle the five most frequently noted reasons.

Review the list, starting with #5 and working toward #1 (the most often cited).  If you have time constraints, focus on the top three reasons.  Ask the group for comments about these tendencies.

Present the following alternatives as a way to counter the reluctance we all can feel about sharing our true opinions, knowledge and feelings in a group decision-making situation.

• Calculate the real risks (both to yourself and to the organization) of speaking up, or not speaking up.  Are your expectations of what will happen if you speak out against a decision realistic or have you exaggerated them in your mind? Think about the consequences to the team or organization if the decision does, indeed, turn out to be flawed.  How will you feel if that happens?

• Confront your fear of separation.  As humans, we sometimes fear that presenting an opinion contrary to what others are saying will be label us a “non-team player” and/or cause us to be alienated from the group. Ask yourself this question: would you rather be liked by your fellow team members or valued for what you contribute.  You stand to make the biggest impact on your team’s success when you honestly share your knowledge, opinions and experiences.

• As a group, work together to make sure people are properly prepared for meetings and that your group maintains a climate of open participation.  What needs to change about what happens before meetings so that people come prepared to discuss the pro’s and con’s of an issue/decision?  What can you do differently during meetings to encourage everyone’s involvement and to make it safe for people to speak up?

*Excerpted from the CRM Learning program, The Abilene Paradox, Second Edition.

Need more help in this area? CRM Learning’s all time best-selling video program, The Abilene Paradox, shows how group decisions get derailed when group members are not honest with their input. Viewers are given a number of tips for helping groups avoid “false consensus”.

People often underestimate their own abilities to be creative, and because of this, they’re afraid or unwilling to stretch their imaginations to look at their lives or work from new and different angles.  The discussion questions below can be used in any type of session on creativity, innovation or brainstorming. They can be used to help make any or all of the following points:

- Creativity is not something we learn; it’s something we’ve forgotten but can relearn.
- Creativity is within us all; we must learn to stop judging ourselves and take risks which free our imaginations.
- A willingness to explore creative solutions is a reflection of our desire to effect positive change in ourselves, our teams and organizations.
- It is important that we support and build on ideas from all team members.
- Creativity can become an everyday part of our lives–we just need to look around and see the world in different ways.
- Teams and organizations need to identify those things that stimulate creativity and those that dull it.

Now, here are 10 discussion questions you might want to use in a session you’re facilitating on creativity:

1. Name creative people you know or have heard of–they don’t have to be famous.  What are some of the things they’ve done that you consider creative?

2. What are some of the creative things you’ve seen children do?  When you’re with them, do they make you more creative?

3. What’s the last creative thing you did?  When did you do it?  If it’s been a long time, why?

4. Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics, said “We fail forward to success.”  What does she mean by this?  Can you think of examples in your life where you “failed forward”?

5. According to Pablo Picasso, “Every act of creation is first of all an act of destruction.”  What do you think must be destroyed?  Is it possible to apply Picasso’s creative philosophy to your workplace?

6. Your manager comes in and says, “We need an answer to our problem of overstocked inventory. See if you can think of a good solution.”  Does this approach stimulate or inhibit your creative juices?  Why?

7. Creativity can often lead to conflict and instability. Why do you think this is? And why then might you want more creativity in your life or organization?

8. If you were told you’d be given $500 for coming up with the best solution to an organizational problem, do you think you’d be more or less creative? Why?

9. Think of several things you do as part of your regular “routine” (e.g. what you eat, what time you wake up in the morning, when you exercise, the people with whom you socialize at work).  Which would be the hardest for you to change?  What habits would you change first if you thought it would be easy?

10. When you’re in a group, what type of behaviors help stimulate your creativity? What type of behaviors or comments diminish it?

Material excerpted from the Leader’s Guide to the training program Team Creativity.

Need help in this area? Are there things going on in your organization today that would benefit from a creative problem-solving effort? The inspirational case study shared in The Magic of We sets the stage for individuals, teams and departments from throughout the organization to work together on finding solutions.

1. I did my part; I can’t help it if other people didn’t do theirs.

2. Nobody gave me a deadline, so I just figured I had all the time in the world to do it.

3. I never really did agree with the decision, but I wasn’t about to say that to my boss.

4. What a mess—someday someone should really clean this up.

5. They never tell us anything!

6. Performance reviews are just a formality; I never take the suggestions seriously.

7. There’s almost no chance that I’ll finish on time, but I’m not going to tell anyone–things might still magically come together at the last moment.

8. People keep giving me more and more work, but I’m afraid if I say “no” to it, I’ll get in trouble.

9. I could see it wasn’t being done right, but it’s not my job to correct other people’s work.

10. I did the best I could, but I wasn’t really sure what you wanted.

Wouldn’t the world be a better place if no one ever said things like this? Certainly the workplace would be more efficient if these phrases became obsolete. Why? Because they are all symptoms of a common problem—a lack of accountability. These comments are made by people who don’t:

• Take responsibility for themselves, their work and even the success of their team
• Seek clarity (including asking about objectives and deadlines) before undertaking a task
• Understand that being accountable includes holding others accountable for
               what they’ve said they’ll do
• “Manage upwards” (make sure they proactively get the information they need from
               their supervisor or leader)
• Speak up when they disagree and/or when they’re overloaded with work

Organizations can do themselves a great service by training and coaching people in these types accountability behaviors.  For where there are individuals and teams focused on accountability, improved results and greater success are sure to follow.

Based on concepts featured in CRM Learning’s Accountability that Works! training program.

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