In this case study episode, Maria, facilitates a pre-meeting discussion between two board members, Sean, an executive director, and Mark, a non-executive director, to address the underlying tensions affecting their board meetings. The conversation reveals a fundamental disagreement regarding the hiring process for a new team member, with Sean advocating for an internal candidate and Mark pushing for an external hire to drive radical change. As the dialogue unfolds, Maria emphasises the importance of communication and mutual understanding, encouraging both directors to explore their differing perspectives while acknowledging their shared goal of advancing the company. The episode highlights the complexities of boardroom dynamics and the necessity of fostering a collaborative environment to ensure effective decision-making.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. 
   

   Identifying Core Issues: The conversation highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the core issues causing tension between board members, rather than getting lost in peripheral disagreements.

   
   


2. 
   

   Communication Style Matters: Effective communication is crucial in board discussions. The need for clarity and a respectful discourse is emphasized, as combative or dismissive language can hinder productive conversations.

   
   


3. 
   

   Understanding Different Perspectives: Both board members express their views on the hiring process, showcasing the necessity of understanding and valuing different perspectives to foster collaboration and decision-making.

   
   


4. 
   

   Building Relationships: The discussion underscores that while the primary focus is on business outcomes, building positive relationships among board members can enhance the overall effectiveness of the board and make meetings more enjoyable.

   
   


5. 
   

   Openness to Dialogue: There is a recognition that being open to dialogue and willing to listen can lead to breakthroughs in understanding and cooperation, even when disagreements exist.

   
   

BEST MOMENTS

1. 
   

   "I think the tensions are caused by one particular fundamental issue. I don't think there's a variety of different things." - Sean

   
   


2. 
   

   "I think there is also a fundamental difficulty with finding the common, and if I may say so, courteous form of discourse." - Mark

   
   


3. 
   

   "I feel like this is completely overblown... I think there is one issue that needs to be discussed." - Sean

   
   


4. 
   

   "Complacency is death to a company... I think that there will need to be radical change." - Mark

   
   


5. 
   

   "I want to get the issue solved. It's not about personalities." - Sean

   
   

SOCIAL LINKS

www.centreforpeacefulsolutions.org

www.peacefulsolutions.org.uk

www.workplacehuddle.com

HOST BIO

Maria founded the Centre for Peaceful Solutions in response to the fatal shooting of a 7 year old in her neighbourhood. She developed a model of conflict resolution for violent crime using her brainchild, the Dialogue Road Map (DRM).  

Over 30 years she has mediated everything from threat to life gang disputes to high stakes business deals gone wrong, Maria empowers people to resolve conflict without reliance on experts. So she trains violent prisoners to be facilitators, leaders to be effective communicators, teenagers to be peer mediators and neighbours to be tenant listeners within their respective communities.

This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/