Pulling together in a crisis: The anatomy of relationships
Apr 20, 2020
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Explore why teams, organizations, and nations perform better in crisis situations, examining factors such as perspective-taking, purpose, and ego maturity. Discover the importance of second-person perspective-taking in building relationships and reaching alignment. Learn how to recognize and manage unconscious confirming evidence bias to create connections. Understand the difference between collaboration and compromise, and the significance of genuine agreement. Discover strategies to establish a second-person perspective and the ability to switch between different perspectives.
Understanding different perspectives and having a common purpose are key factors for teams performing better in crises and non-crisis situations.
Consciously switching between first, second, and third person perspectives fosters effective communication and relationship-building, leading to shared understanding and collaboration.
Deep dives
Why teams perform better in a crisis?
Teams, organizations, and individuals often function better in a crisis due to three key factors. The first is perspective taking, where individuals are able to see different perspectives and understand the bigger picture. This helps teams perform better in non-crisis situations as well. The second factor is having a common purpose or goal that unites the team and provides a sense of alignment. This common enemy fosters teamwork and collaboration. The third factor is the temporary suspension of ego battles and increased maturity among team members. In a crisis, individuals prioritize the bigger mission over personal agendas. Overall, understanding and utilizing these factors can help teams sustain the benefits gained during a crisis beyond the crisis itself.
Understanding different perspectives
Human beings typically operate from either a first person or third person perspective in conversations. The first person perspective is subjective and emotional, while the third person perspective is more rational and observer-like. By recognizing these perspectives, individuals can identify patterns in their own and others' communication styles. Additionally, discovering shared second person perspectives can create common ground and spark genuine collaboration. Developing the skill to consciously switch between these perspectives allows for a comprehensive understanding of different viewpoints, fostering effective communication and relationship-building.
Practicing second person perspective taking
Second person perspective taking, which involves finding common ground and shared understanding, can be practiced through several techniques. These include deep-level playback to ensure that all parties feel heard, identifying benefits that resonate with all participants, and writing down points of agreement to enhance shared attention and accountability. It's essential to create an environment that values diverse perspectives and encourages open-ended questions. Developing awareness of one's own perspective and consciously stepping into and out of first, second, and third person perspectives facilitates fourth person perspective taking, which integrates all three perspectives and allows for intentional perspective shifts.
Sustaining the benefits of crisis
The challenge lies in sustaining the benefits gained during a crisis once it is over. To do so, teams must consciously apply the understanding of perspectives and actively practice second person perspective taking. This requires creating an environment where individuals feel safe and encouraged to participate, where common points of agreement are acknowledged, and where alignment is documented and revisited. By promoting conscious competence and ongoing awareness of different perspectives, teams can continue performing at high levels and foster strong connections beyond the crisis.
Join Dr Alan Watkins and Katie Ledger as they explore why teams, organisations and nations pull together in a crisis and perform better only to lose that advantage when the crisis is over.
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