Thanks for sharing your insights, and the link to your post as well. I appreciate you stopping by Susan.

Excellent points Mike and we do need to take a very serious look in the mirror in terms of our own relationship with dissent. Disagreeing does not equal disrespect, yet we seem to have developed a culture that doesn’t know the difference.

I've been ranting a bit lately about the lost art of passionate discourse (and the cost of that to the health and success of our organizations). Your post finally got me to write about it. Here's the post.. http://randomactsofleadership.com/2010/10/29/passionate-discourse/” rel=”nofollow”>.http://randomactsofleadership.com/2010/10/29/passionate-discourse/

Thank for the poignant warning about the perils associated with out of control egos. Few things will taint a leader's ability to perform like an arrogant, elitist attitude. Well said Dan…

Perhaps the most rewarding part of blogging is watching other leaders use this forum to refine their own thinking. You very eloquently described the issues addressed in the original post, and offered keen insights on what it takes to deal with people – even those with whom you don't agree. Thanks for sharing Joe.

How do I offer a dissenting opinion to this piece? Perhaps by entering the absurd.
Ego drives and Ego destroys. Ego diminishes and denies dissenting opinion. Ego states opinion – kind of what we are all doing here (just kidding Mike)

The dreaded art form is the source of my reply. This is one of those areas where you wish the science would work all the time. I have often wished we could just have a formula. Unfortunately, the wildcard is PEOPLE. We serve people, lead people, we relate to people, we encourage or discourage people, and we are people. Therefore the art you speak of sculpts with a very sharp blade – the tongue. Body language notwithstanding, it’s the words we say which inspires contagious commitment and action, imparts essential truth, speaks in volumes about how we really feel, and sometimes delivers devastating wounds. Once released, the things we say in debate and discussion, whether lighthearted or intense, can never really be pulled back, can they? Consequently, the art form you appropriately point out takes on either a healthy or unhealthy advance of this crucial process. With a knife a trained surgeon can do something that a skilled villain or even an experienced butcher could never do. He or she can wound with the intention of healing. One is discerning, calculated, methodical, vigilant, ultra-careful, and deliberately sensitive to the details; while the other is carving, cutting, slinging, digging, and deboning, with much less precision, and with an entirely different objective.

So with this said, my comment is that healthy debate, besides being collegial, mutually rewarding on so many levels, and critical for effective leadership – should outright demonstrate our high value for the people we are connecting with, in an authentic and deeper (beneath the surface) dialogue, honoring our differences by the very manner in which we relate. You said, “Understanding and respecting others perceptions is such a critical part of being an effective leader that absent this ability I truly believe you cannot be effective in a leadership role.” I think this is central to the core values behind the art you write about here.

Great stuff Mike!

Joe Mascia

Thanks for your post. I always enjoy reading and thinking about what you write. I'm with you, I love an exploration of ideas.

My own experience validates your assessment that we have lost the ability to disagree. It seems we can't argue principles without taking things personally.

The idea of a passionless discussion that focuses on principles is a novel and often unattainable idea.

Perhaps we cannot separate our identify from ideas. Therefore, if we "lose" an argument we are somehow personally diminished.

Thanks for your work,

Dan Rockwell
Leadership Freak