Inspiration is everywhere.
—Anonymous
Tough issues aren't just the venue of executives and managers. They affect everyone in the group or organization, from the most senior management people to the newest hire, from the captain of the police force to the newest family in the community. Where companies and organizations are concerned, every person in the group must be counted on to give his or her opinions and share experiences.
But, too often, that doesn't happen. Instead, a counterproductive mind-set prevails, one defined by negativity and all-too-familiar statements like these:
"There's not enough time to involve everyone."
"Some people can't be trusted. They have their own agendas that might disrupt our plans."
"It's just not possible to manage input from everyone."
When those kinds of fears run rampant, it's just a small step to a limited and unproductive conclusion:
"Let's just get a small group together and work something out." There is a better, inclusive approach, and you need to put it into practice right at the start.