![\"Arm](\"http:\/\/farm1.static.flickr.com\/227\/535430752_499dfda641.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhen discussions become stuck in a \u2018death-spiral\u2019 of point-counterpoint views it\u2019s useful to have some techniques to unblock the discussion. One great technique is to shift the focus from telling people about your views and start asking questions to understand theirs.<\/p>\n
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I was in a bid planning meeting at a large consultancy when the discussion started to enter a conversational death spiral. Manager A believed that there should be a project manager involved in the project whilst Manager B disagreed. The conversation shifted from a discussion to a disagreement \u2013 the difference in views hooked the participants into a verbal arm wrestle over who was right.<\/p>\n
I realised that neither manager was asking any questions of the other. It was all \u201clet me tell you again why I\u2019m right\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was as if each person thought the other person was just failing to see what was obvious to them, so each was using an ineffective strategy of repeating their view again this time stronger and louder.<\/strong><\/p>\n I fought back my impulse to \u2018take sides\u2019 and focus on what one side was missing. Instead I decided to ask a question to move the conversation forward:<\/p>\n Me: \u201c[To Manager A] If we agreed to go with the idea of a project manager, could you say what that would look like to you? How much budget do you think would be needed?\u201d<\/p>\n Manager A: \u201cI think we\u2019d need to use 5% of the budget\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Me: \u201c[To Manager B] How does that sound to you? What issues would you see if 5% of the budget was used?\u201d<\/p>\n Manager B: \u201cI\u2019d assumed it was more than that. If that\u2019s all it would take then that works for me\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n One well-placed question changed the nature of the discussion. The reduction in tension in the room was obvious.<\/p>\n My question was designed to take the other person \u201cdown their ladder [of inference]<\/a>\u201d and produce more specific observable data. By doing so it uncovered some assumptions about what exactly was involved.<\/p>\n Have you found switching from backing one side to asking questions about the other side\u2019s ideas has helped unblock conversations? Share your views in the comments.<\/p>\n![\"Benjamin](\"http:\/\/a3.twimg.com\/profile_images\/870580223\/twitterProfilePhoto_reasonably_small.jpg\" "\\"@benjaminm\\"")
Hi, I\u2019m Benjamin<\/a>. I hope that you enjoyed the post. I\u2019m a consultant and coach who helps IT teams and their managers consistently deliver the right software solutions. You can find out more about me<\/a> and my services<\/a>. Contact me<\/a> for a conversation about your situation.<\/p>\n