Can't We All Just Get Along?

I wish I had some sort of illuminating and intelligent response ready to go after reading Matt's post on re-re-re-re-filtered water but I can only sit here thinking - "wow - talk about a paradigm sh*t."

In any case, my thoughts this week revolve around the idea of consensus building and the need to get along with different types of individuals/groups/interests. In many ways, the key to getting policies, plans, and strategies to move forward is deceptively simple: lets just find the idea we can all agree on.

All throughout what we've been learning, whether via school and/or personal experiences, it's stated (implicitly or explicitly) that working in the real world and getting things done takes effort, patience, communication, compromise, and resolve. I'm sure we can count tons of times where we wanted to do something one way, and it seemed obvious to us that it was the easiest, efficient, and correct way to do it. But then some John "Trying to steal my Thunder" Doe would come in and throw a wrench into the thing for no apparent reason asking his dumb, rhetorical, kindergarten questions. Sure we wanted to tell this guy "you're delaying the inevitable" or "we've already decided and its better so just get with the program" or "you're a couple donuts short of a dozen." Sure we wanted to go to the HR rep who hired the guy and say "thanks for turning work into a daycare center." (Note: if this happens to you - perhaps a hug or vacation might be in order). BUT - we don't. Why is that?

1. We don't want to get fired, 2. What if tomorrow you're the guy who isn't quite sure what's going on. What if you need a just a tad bit of guidance before throwing your weight behind the proposal/idea/plan/etc. and 3. We need to have a collective support. We understand that in order to have progress and move forward - it's going to take some "stewardship" and effort to make sure everyone understands what's going on. It's going to take some compromise and follow through by all parties involved. You don't want to face roadblocks and opposition just b/c you didnt take the time to explain yourself fully and you clash with your colleagues. People are afraid of what they don't know - so it's up to us future leaders to shed light on the dark, take steps towards the unknown, and explain the unexplainable - in ways that educate but don't alienate.

Combine this with the fact that legislatures never really create comprehensive social welfare programs or regulations - administrative agencies use their discretionary authority to develop detailed rules and appropriate measures. Even if policies/measures are enacted at higher levels, it falls to administrators to flesh out the follow through, and make sure the policy stays true to its intent.

And for many of us, our careers will lead us to those policy and managment levels, where we will be responsible for fleshing out the rules and measures. We are going to have to be able to get along with our colleagues, with our critics. We are going to need each other's support to push ideas through, and in other cases, to call ideas into question. We can't lose our patience or get annoyed b/c someone took our parking spot, or someone doesn't see our point.

I hate to state the obvious, but turns out sometimes individuals will let their personal biases cloud their judgment. Shocking - I know. It would suck royally if the person holding the deciding vote on a measure to provide free immunizations to children votes negatively b/c - officially - it wouldnt reach the children who need it most, but - unofficially - it's because one were condescending in a meeting the week before.

I want to believe people wouldnt let personal feelings/phobias get in the way of the greater good, but it does happen and whenever there are many differing ideas and little agreement, people often say "there are too many chiefs, not enough indians."

That's why it's imperative we all get along and develop those consensus building skills. We will be responsible for finding a common ground and consensus among a sea of differing view points. We will be responsible for balancing different types of personalities. We will have to shelve personal feelings for something bigger than just you or I. Sometimes we will lead, and sometimes we will follow - but as long as we are moving forward - I think it's a journey that'll be worthwhile.