Common ground

…you have the whole system in the room where people take responsibility, so you are ready to explore the whole elephant.

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Increased cooperation and fast action on matters of shared concern create community and avoids conflict.

common ground is defined as those statements every person will agree with after all views have been heard and disagreements made public.

Therefore:

Pick an issue on which finding common ground matters. Tell people you want to treat problems and conflicts as information until everyone understands where they are together and where they are not. Create an opportunity for dialogue where people confirm their areas of agreement. Compile a list of those items on which to agree to disagree. Pick one of depersonalize conflict, legitimate different perspectives, or integrator for finding common ground.

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Sources

• Don’t just do something, stand there!—Ten Principles for Leading Meetings That Matter by Marvin Weisbord, Sandra Janoff