"TRUTH SPRINGS FROM ARGUMENT AMONGST FRIENDS."
-David Hume

If you are unable to openly discuss, examine, or disagree about a situation with someone, you have neither an honest friendship, nor a healthy working relationship, so:

"DON'T BE AFRAID OF OPPOSITION. REMEMBER, A KITE RISES AGAINST; NOT WITH; THE WIND."
-Hamilton Mabie

During my almost 20 years of conducting seminars and management retreats with executive management groups, the single most difficult bridge to get people across is the one that leads to honest disagreement and conflict with each other, rather than the bridge that leads away from it and instead toward false agreement and feigned compromise. Remember:

"WHENEVER TWO GOOD PEOPLE ARGUE OVER PRINCIPLES, THEY ARE BOTH RIGHT."
-Marie Ebner Von Eschenbach

Why? Because standing tall for what they honestly believe in is of much more importance than to try to demonstrate they are "team players" by appearing to agree with each other. As an executive, it is your responsibility to encourage them to CHALLENGE ANYONE'S opinion - especially YOURS!

"CONFLICT IS THE GADFLY OF THOUGHT. IT STIRS US TO OBSERVATIONS AND MEMORY. IT INSTIGATES TO INVENTION. IT SHOCKS US OUT OF SHEEPLIKE PASSIVITY AND SETS US TO NOTING AND CONTRIVING."
-John Dewey

We all know people who seem to live to show others up in meetings, so they can walk away a "victor." Their motive is not to benefit the group, but rather themselves. Beware of these people, for they have not learned that:

"NO MATTER HOW YOU SEEM TO FATTEN ON A CRIME, THERE CAN NEVER BE GOOD FOR THE BEE WHICH IS BAD FOR THE HIVE."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Honest verbal conflict is a means to avoid and negate the need to use force and violence, not encourage it:

"THE DIRECT USE OF FORCE IS SUCH A POOR SOLUTION TO ANY PROBLEM, IT IS GENERALLY EMPLOYED ONLY BY SMALL CHILDREN AND LARGE NATIONS."
-David Friedman

President John F. Kennedy viewed the Bay of Pigs debacle as the most awful blunder of his presidency. He said he was too easily wooed by the "surface" agreement of his cabinet and advisors after their briefings by the imposing military brass that displayed unified certainty about the imminent success of the invasion. They had "no doubt" that the Cuban people would rise as one to join the attackers against the Castro regime. WRONG!

But Kennedy viewed this as an opportunity to learn and vowed never to be lured into this type of "briar patch" again. When the Cuban missile crisis arose the president listened to each point of view and then assigned a competent individual to take the opposite point of view, insuring that NO premise went unchallenged. All possibilities and points of view were voiced and heard. America triumphed from the process and a model of decision-making through conflict was established. Sadly, it seems lost in today’s political spectrum. Keep in mind that:

"THE HOTTEST PLACES IN HELL ARE RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO IN TIME OF GREAT MORAL CRISIS MAINTAIN THEIR NEUTRALITY."
-Dante Aleghieri

History teaches us that neutrality often leads to the use of force, which leads to the decimation of cultures and civilizations.

"IF YOU AIN'T NEVER PICK UP THE SWORD, YOU AIN'T NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT FALLIN' ON IT."
-Meldrick Lewis

So, lets talk, disagree and find the right answer!