Small change: be on guard for nodding dog syndrome

First published on
Oct 25, 2022
we’re dodging difficult conversations
Writing Small Change Culture in companies Difficult conversations Getting change done High performing teams Leadership development Values 2022

At times of change, the temptation can be to forge ahead without ensuring that those around you are in genuine agreement with what’s being done and why.

Spending time ensuring that plans are understood and agreed by all involved can stop strategy dying on contact with reality. This is because debate can reveal strategic flaws. It also illuminates points of concern, reducing the temptation for people to drag their feet.

These conversations will likely be repetitive, inefficient, and frustrating. But the alternative is to spend three times as long cleaning up the mess that a lack of meaningful debate predicts.

Something to consider: is ‘yes’ hiding ‘no’?

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