T.J. Elliott wrote:
> My partners joke, even wince at this (I was taught at one point by a
> missionary order of nuns!!) and we regularly inquire with each other
> about where the shifting boundaries lie. I'm unconfortable with herding
> the people who use such techniques into the bad guys camp; I want to
> learn why they make that choice. Is it politics, lack of knowledge, path
> of least resistance, tradition, class warfare & capitalism, or something
> else? Responses like yours, "Doc", help me to continue the inquiry.
> Thanks very much.
T.J.--I'm a little naive, sometimes, at these things. However, in your
experience, has it helped to use inquiry and advocacy in these cases--for
example, to inquire of the person directing the ranking process, "what is
your desired outcome?" I guess I'm asking this question, because as a
technical specialist I remember people telling me what they wanted me to
do--and it often resulted in consequences which were unexpected to them
(though not to me). When I began asking them, "what do you want to end up
with?" then I was able to help create the desired outcome by designing the
process.
Has your experience found this to be true? Or, has too often happened
with me, people who move into generalist positions assume that they can
see the entire system and that their actions will create desired outcomes?
I ask because I too would like to divert well-intentioned actions from the
paths of destruction (oops! sounds too much like a religious program--one
that hasn't been too successful in its' efforts through the centuries).
Doc
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