Many of society's most serious problems haven't stemmed from a leader's inability to "managing conflict," instead they have been created by an inability to manage agreement. Yes, that's right, many people don't know how to manage agreement.
This idea was explored in great depth in Irving Janis' seminal book, Groupthink. But, in light of everything from the Bush Administration's disasterous decision to invade Iraq to the great financial meltdown (caused by the sub-prime mortgage fiasco), every good leader should also give serious consideration to how effectively he or she can "manage agreement."
As Harvey Mackay recently wrote, one solution is to "Say 'no' to Yes Men and 'yes' to those who say no." Or, as Alfred P. Sloan, the former president of General Motors said years ago (when the company was successful):
"If we are all in agreement on the decision then I propose we postpone further discussion of this matter until our next meeting to give ourselves time to develop some disagreement and perhaps gain some understanding of what the decision is all about."
Good advice, don't you agree?
