365QOD-Day121

"I hate it when we disagree"- a silly statement

The second of the five dysfunctions is fear of conflict.

I am always amazed that when people interview prospective hires they like to chose people like themselves most often.   Why?  Because they are like them.  The view themselves as being a good employee and would like to reward the company with the same type of person.  This eliminates conflict.

I have always thought that by hiring the same type of person I would double my strengths AND double my weaknesses.  Bad idea! 

At one time I was an Engineering Manager and attended a weekly staff meeting.  The manager of the division liked to have a two hour meeting every Wednesday afternoon during which we discussed the schedules and activities that needed to take place next week.  However, often times he liked to brainstorm ideas with the team.  The brainstorming consisted of him stating his thoughts and then asking for the team's opinions.

Most often, the members would regurgitate the thoughts that he espoused and nod in agreement.  It felt like I was the only voice that dissented and offered a different point of view.  

So I stopped going to the meetings.  A year later my boss came to my office and told me that I should be attending his weekly meetings.  I did as instructed.  The meetings were now an hour of agreement.  I complimented him on his new format and how much more efficient he had become and never went back again.

Today's question is:
"Are you afraid to entertain differing ideas because of fear of conflict?"